Compare towns
Barrington vs Nottingham vs Strafford vs Madbury
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).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Nottingham | Strafford | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
5,357 |
4,306 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Strafford and Nottingham 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% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Nottingham 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% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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 |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Nottingham 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 |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Nottingham 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 |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barrington School District | Nottingham School District | Strafford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.