Compare towns
Barrington vs Dover vs Strafford vs Nottingham
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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Strafford | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
33,364Highest |
4,306Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Barrington 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Nottingham 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Nottingham 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
| Nottingham and Dover 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±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Dover School District | Strafford School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.