Compare towns
Strafford vs Rochester 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 highest household income ($122k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Rochester | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
33,144Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Strafford and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest 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±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Strafford and Barrington 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 |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% 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 | $6,086 9% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,121Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±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% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Rochester School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.