Compare towns
Barrington vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Barrington | Worcester | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
207,055Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 about the U.S. average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Barrington 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% 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. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 128% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
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.