Compare towns

Barrington vs Litchfield 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

Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Litchfield has the most people working from home (21%).
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.

MeasureBarringtonLitchfieldMadburyRochester
People
Population
9,489
8,499
2,203Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.7±2.3
11% below NH
43.1±1.7Highest
about the NH average
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
43±1.8
about the NH average
Litchfield and Rochester 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%
22.6%±3.7
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%
14.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
Rochester 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%
46.7%
NH: 40.6%
52.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
27.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
4.4%±1.6
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
4.3%±1
NH: 6%
Barrington and Litchfield 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
$162,036±$11kHighest
64% above NH
$148,365±$30k
50% above NH
$80,836±$3kLowest
18% below NH
Litchfield 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
$485,000±$18kHighest
20% above NH
$476,900±$31k
18% above NH
$279,100±$10kLowest
31% below NH
Litchfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
25% above NH
$2,138±$406Highest
43% above NH
$1,574±$759
6% above NH
$1,369±$72Lowest
8% below NH
Litchfield and Barrington 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
$8,273
24% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$5,334Lowest
20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2
NH: 48.2%
81.5%±38.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±7
NH: 48.2%
Litchfield 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%
1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
8.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.7%
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
29 min
9% above NH
25 minLowest
5% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
21%±5.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
11.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Litchfield 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 #53 of 120 in NH — #98 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District Litchfield School District Oyster River Coop School District Rochester School District
High school in town None in town Campbell High School None in town Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
—
13.2Highest
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.