Compare towns
Barrington vs Exeter vs Strafford
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
16,151Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Barrington and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.