Compare towns

Barrington vs Eliot vs Pelham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).

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.

MeasureBarringtonEliotPelham
People
Population
9,489
7,146Lowest
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Pelham 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%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14k
37% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
20% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Pelham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
32% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Eliot and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
128% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Barrington 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 #19 of 133 in ME #48 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Pelham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.