Compare towns

Barrington vs Ware vs Pelham

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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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.

MeasureBarringtonWarePelham
People
Population
9,489Lowest
10,048
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.7Highest
11% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Ware and Pelham 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%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Pelham 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%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware and Pelham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham 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
37% above U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
Pelham 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
20% above U.S.
$289,700±$28kLowest
13% below U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
128% above U.S.
$4,237Lowest
36% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Ware 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%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 #267 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District Ware Pelham School District
High school in town None in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
10.4Lowest
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.