Compare towns
Barrington vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
207,055Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 about the U.S. average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Worcester 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2% 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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Strafford 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. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% 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% |
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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.