Compare towns
Barrington vs Lee vs Strafford 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
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Rochester 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% 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% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lee and Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Lee 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 |
— | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford 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.