Compare towns
Ashland vs Lebanon vs Durham 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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Tamworth has the most homeowners (74%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lebanon | Durham | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
14,999 |
15,080Highest |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Durham and Lebanon 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,474Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest 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% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
74%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.