Compare towns
Barrington vs Lee vs Madbury vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Lee | Madbury | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
4,576 |
2,203Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Rochester 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Madbury and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Lee 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 |
— | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.