Compare towns
Barrington vs Litchfield vs Madbury vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($399k median).
Litchfield has the most people working from home (21%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Litchfield | Madbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
8,499 |
2,203Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Litchfield 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above 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±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above 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±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% 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% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Strafford 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Litchfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.