Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Madbury vs Plymouth
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 people working from home (18.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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.
| Measure | Barrington | Durham | Madbury | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
10,681Highest |
2,203Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Highest 11% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Barrington and Madbury 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Barrington and Madbury 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Madbury and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Barrington and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Durham 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.