What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the most expensive homes ($399k median).

Durham has the most affordable homes ($322k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barrington	Durham
People
Population	9,489Highest	4,262Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average	42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S.
	Durham 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 U.S.: 22%	19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barrington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Durham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barrington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,323±$14kHighest 37% above U.S.	$99,181±$5kLowest 23% above U.S.
	Barrington 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±$30kHighest 20% above U.S.	$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,867±$194 32% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,121Highest 128% above U.S.	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	18.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham 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	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	Barrington School District	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.