Compare towns
Strafford vs Dunbarton vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1985).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k 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 | Strafford | Dunbarton | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
3,097Lowest |
9,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 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 | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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 6% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dunbarton School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None 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.