Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Rochester vs Madbury
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 homeowners (87%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,080 |
33,144Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest 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%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% 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 |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rochester School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.2Highest |
— |
| 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.