Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Madbury vs Weare
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest 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 |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest 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% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below 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% |
62.2%±24.6 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 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 34% 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% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.