What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

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	Wakefield
People
Population	9,489Highest	5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH
Kids under 18	23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barrington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wakefield 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%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,323±$14kHighest 11% above NH	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
	Barrington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$399,100±$30kHighest about the NH average	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Barrington and Wakefield 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	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barrington and Wakefield 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%	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Barrington and Wakefield 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	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Barrington School District	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.