Compare towns
Durham vs Barrington vs Barnstead vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Barnstead has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Barrington | Barnstead | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
9,489 |
4,994Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Barnstead and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Barrington School District | Barnstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.