What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barrington	Reading
People
Population	9,489Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barrington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barrington and Reading 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 37% above U.S.	$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S.	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,867±$194Lowest 32% above U.S.	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.
	Reading and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,121Lowest 128% above U.S.	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	18.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#65 of 120 in NH	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Barrington School District	Reading
High school in town	None in town	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.