Living in Barrington

Barrington is a rural town in Strafford County, made up largely of forest, farmland, and several small lakes scattered across a low-density landscape. The town has no traditional downtown, functioning instead as a bedroom community for Dover, Rochester, and the University of New Hampshire in nearby Durham. Swains Lake and several smaller ponds offer swimming and fishing close to home, while large tracts of conservation land preserve much of the town's rural character. Route 9 and Route 125 provide the main commercial and commuting corridors through town. Barrington attracts families and outdoor-oriented residents seeking more land and lower density than the nearby Seacoast cities, while still keeping a reasonable commute to Dover or Durham. Housing remains more affordable than closer-in Seacoast communities.