Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Bennington 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Tamworth has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bennington | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
10,681Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
45.6±10.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Tamworth and Ashland 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tamworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Durham and Bennington 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
| Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$4,474Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.