Compare towns

Barrington vs Dover vs Durham vs Litchfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureBarringtonDoverDurhamLitchfield
People
Population
9,489
33,364Highest
10,681
8,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+2.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.7±2.3
11% below NH
36.9±1.9
15% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
43.1±1.7Highest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.6%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
14.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Dover and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
46.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
4.4%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14k
11% above NH
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$162,036±$11kHighest
64% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
about the NH average
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$485,000±$18k
20% above NH
Durham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
25% above NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$2,138±$406Highest
43% above NH
Litchfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121Lowest
7% above NH
$8,249
24% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,273
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
81.5%±38.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Litchfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%
NH: 72.8%
86.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above NH
23 min
15% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
29 min
9% above NH
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21%±5.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
Litchfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #65 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #53 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District Dover School District — Litchfield School District
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School — Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.