Peaceful country living in Barrington
Barrington is a peaceful town in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Encompassing about 50 square miles of natural landscape and tranquil lakes, Barrington offers many outdoor opportunities and recreational activities. The town has a population of around 10,000, and is primarily a residential community with some local establishments along Calef Highway. “People here love their town and take great pride in living here,” says Stephanie Sweeney, the town’s youth and community program coordinator. “Barrington is a unique setup in that the town has some really cute mom and pop local stores, but it’s also easily accessible to bigger places like Rochester, Dover and Portsmouth, so nothing’s out of reach.”
Single-family homes in the New Hampshire woods
With rolling hills and dense, forested terrain, Barrington's homes are often tucked behind towering trees and verdant greens. Houses are comfortably spread apart, and many homes have lots that go from quarter-acre to over two acres. Homes were built throughout the 20th century, with a mix of new developments and subdivisions. Homes range from Cape Cods and ranch-style homes to Colonial Revivals, split-levels and New Traditional. Smaller properties, typically under 2,000 square feet, go between $300,000 and $550,000, and larger builds can reach $800,000. New developments go from $800,000 to about $1 million, with a handful of waterfront properties reaching just over $1.2 million. Open lots, ranging from quarter-acre to two acres, are selling between $40,000 and over $200,000.
Hiking and boating opportunities around Barrington
Barrington has lots of nature reserves and conservation land, providing hiking and camping opportunities to residents. Popular trails include Winnie the Pooh Trail, the 7-mile-long Locke Trail and the 4-mile loop trail around Barrington Watershed Area. People can also go boating, kayaking and fishing at the 340-acre Swains Lake and Mendums Pond. The 18-hole Nippo Lake Golf Club is open to the public, and the town has a very active recreation department. “We have recreational programs for all ages and all year round,” Sweeney says. “We also offer before- and after-school care and summer camps, which are big for families.”
Barrington School District and school choice for high schoolers
The community is served by Barrington School District, which is comprised of an early learning center, Barrington Elementary and Barrington Middle School. The elementary school has a C-plus grade from Niche, and Barrington Middle gets a B-plus. Since the district does not have a high school, students may choose to attend one of the high schools in surrounding communities, including Oyster River High School, Dover High School and Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, which rate a C, a B and an A-minus, respectively.
Shopping and dining options along Calef Highway
Restaurants and shops are concentrated along Calef Highway, including Dante’s Pasta and Millo's Pizza & Grill. Caleb’s Country Store, which has been open since 1869, is the town’s staple establishment, selling an assortment of old-fashioned candy, gourmet food and gifts. From October to April, Nippo Lake's Restaurant, located inside the golf club, offers bluegrass music on Sundays. Grocery options include George Calef Fine Foods, Market Basket and Hannaford. Big-box stores like Kohl’s and Walmart are in Rochester, which is about 10 miles away.
Navigating to other places in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Route 125 and U.S. Route 202 pass through town. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is about 35 miles away, and Frisbie Memorial Hospital is about 10 miles northeast in Rochester. Public transit in town is provided by the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation.
Community events in Barrington
The town has many community events throughout the year, including fishing derbies, an egg hunt in spring and a summer concert series. The annual fall festival features vendor booths, live music, and games and activities for children.
