Compare towns
Rochester vs Eliot vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Eliot | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
7,146Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barrington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Eliot 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.