Compare towns

Barrington vs Lee vs Manchester

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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBarringtonLeeManchester
People
Population
9,489
4,576Lowest
115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.7±2.3
11% below NH
42.9±1.9Highest
about the NH average
38±1Lowest
12% below NH
Lee and Barrington 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%
21.9%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
18%±1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Lee 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%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Lee 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%
NH: 40.6%
50.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9Lowest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
6.4%±0.7Highest
NH: 6%
Manchester and Lee 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±$54kHighest
33% above NH
$81,007±$2kLowest
18% below NH
Lee 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±$30k
about the NH average
$480,600±$61kHighest
19% above NH
$365,600±$7kLowest
9% below NH
Lee and Barrington 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
—
$1,564±$37Lowest
5% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
7% above NH
$9,661Highest
45% above NH
$5,922Lowest
11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50%±3.6
NH: 48.2%
Barrington and Manchester 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%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
48.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1966Lowest
13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above NH
28 min
about the NH average
24 minLowest
10% below NH
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.3Lowest
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 #115 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District Oyster River Coop School District Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town None in town None in town Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 10 photos → 6 photos →

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.