Compare towns
Ashland vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Tamworth has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,710Lowest |
2,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.6±10.9 5% above NH |
| Lyme and Tamworth 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest 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%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tamworth and Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Lyme 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 |
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.