Compare towns
Ashland vs Keene 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).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Tamworth has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
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 | Keene | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
22,939Highest |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Tamworth and Ashland 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Keene and Tamworth 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 |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$366,800±$29kHighest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
| Keene and Tamworth 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,474Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Keene School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.