Compare towns
Ashland vs Lee 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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Tamworth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
4,576Highest |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.6±10.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Tamworth and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Tamworth and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,110±$184Highest 26% below NH |
| Tamworth and Ashland 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,474Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Tamworth and Ashland 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Tamworth 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 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.