Compare towns
Barrington vs Holderness vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Holderness | Hanover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
1,917Lowest |
11,685Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Hanover 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±$30k about the NH average |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Hanover and Holderness 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barrington School District | Holderness School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.