Compare towns
Barrington vs Dover vs Pelham
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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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.
| Measure | Barrington | Dover | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Barrington and Dover 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Dover School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.