Compare towns
Barrington vs Somersworth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Somersworth | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
12,111Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Somersworth 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%±3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest 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±$14k 11% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Barrington 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Barrington 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 |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Highest 7% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Somersworth School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.