Compare towns
Strafford vs Dedham 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
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Strafford | Dedham | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
25,237Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 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 | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dedham | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.