Compare towns
Barrington vs Dover vs Strafford vs Rochester
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Strafford | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
33,364Highest |
4,306Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%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 |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Rochester 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% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Strafford 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Strafford 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±$30k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Dover 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Dover School District | Strafford School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.