Compare towns

Holderness vs Barrington vs Center Harbor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).

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.

MeasureHoldernessBarringtonCenter Harbor
People
Population
1,917
9,489Highest
955Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
38.7±2.3Lowest
11% below NH
60.4±4.8Highest
39% above NH
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
11.9%±5.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
39.5%±13.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
47.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
5.3%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Barrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45k
9% above NH
$110,323±$14kHighest
11% above NH
$104,313±$16kLowest
5% above NH
Barrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$399,100±$30k
about the NH average
$463,800±$74kHighest
15% above NH
Center Harbor and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,867±$194Lowest
25% above NH
—
Holderness and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$7,121Highest
7% above NH
$4,667
30% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2
NH: 48.2%
63.1%±25.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
14.3%±59.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Barrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
7.1%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87%
NH: 72.8%
91%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
30 minHighest
13% above NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
8.9%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #65 of 120 in NH —
School district Holderness School District Barrington School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.