Compare towns

Strafford vs Rye 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 most homeowners (93.5%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

MeasureStraffordRyeBarrington
People
Population
4,306Lowest
5,611
9,489Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+4.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
46.3±2.1
7% above NH
55.1±3Highest
27% above NH
38.7±2.3Lowest
11% below NH
Kids under 18
17.6%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Rye 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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
61.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
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
$140,655±$39kHighest
42% above NH
$110,323±$14kLowest
11% above NH
Rye 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
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
155% above NH
$399,100±$30kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,635±$246Lowest
10% above NH
$1,781±$156
19% above NH
$1,867±$194Highest
25% above NH
Barrington and Rye 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
$7,519Highest
13% above NH
$7,121
7% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.3%±30.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
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%
6.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
85.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1972Lowest
7 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
34% above NH
29 minLowest
8% above NH
30 min
13% above NH
Work from home
15.9%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #73 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #65 of 120 in NH
School district Strafford School District Rye School District Barrington School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.