Compare towns
Ashland vs Bristol vs Bridgewater vs Tamworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Tamworth has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Ashland | Bristol | Bridgewater | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
3,273Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
45.6±10.9 5% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
| Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,474 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Bristol 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | — | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.