Compare towns
New Boston vs Strafford vs Barrington vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | New Boston | Strafford | Barrington | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,165 |
4,306Lowest |
9,489Highest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
| Litchfield and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,181 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 33% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Litchfield 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Boston School District | Strafford School District | Barrington School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.