Compare towns
Barrington vs Williston vs Rochester
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 homeowners (87%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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.
| Measure | Barrington | Williston | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
10,144 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Rochester 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Rochester 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$14kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barrington and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Barrington and Williston 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.