Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Bristol 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 the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% 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 | Bristol | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
10,681Highest |
3,273 |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% 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 |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
45.6±10.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Tamworth and Bristol 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% |
24.3%±6.4Highest 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 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% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 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 |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
| Bristol and Durham 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 |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,474 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bristol 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
74%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs 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 |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Newfound Area School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Newfound Regional High School | 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.