Compare towns
Barrington vs Stoneham vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
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 | Stoneham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
23,355Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Stoneham | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.