Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Madbury vs New Boston
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
38.8±3.4Highest 10% below NH |
| New Boston and Barrington 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Boston 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| New Boston and Madbury 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
| Durham and New Boston 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% 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 | $7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | — | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.