Compare towns

Barrington vs Dunstable vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).

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.

MeasureBarringtonDunstableStrafford
People
Population
9,489Highest
3,408Lowest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Highest
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
15%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Dunstable 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±$14kLowest
37% above U.S.
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
$122,105±$22k
51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
20% above U.S.
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
$427,900±$29k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,325±$637Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,635±$246
16% above U.S.
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
128% above U.S.
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
$6,086Lowest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±77.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Lowest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dunstable 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 #4 of 282 in MA #73 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District Groton-Dunstable Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.