Compare towns
Barrington vs Lawrence vs Strafford
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 people working from home (18.7%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Lawrence | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
88,736Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Lawrence | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.