Compare towns
Ashland vs Tamworth vs Lisbon vs Bridgewater
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 renters (35.9% rent).
Tamworth has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Tamworth | Lisbon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
2,884Highest |
1,583 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
45.6±10.9 5% above NH |
46.4±5.7 7% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Lisbon 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% |
23.3%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Tamworth and Lisbon 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% |
28.2%±7 NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Ashland and Lisbon 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 |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
$65,500±$13k 34% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
| Bridgewater 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±$29k 44% below NH |
$366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
$1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Lisbon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$4,474 33% below NH |
$4,691 30% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74% NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Lisbon 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 | Tamworth School District | Lisbon Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
— |
| 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.