Compare towns
Ashland vs Tamworth vs Marlborough vs Bristol
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).
Tamworth has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Marlborough | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,884 |
2,207 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
45.6±10.9 5% above NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Marlborough and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Marlborough 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%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest 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% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Bristol 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 |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
| Bristol and Marlborough 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 |
$366,800±$29kHighest 9% below NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Marlborough 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 |
$4,474 33% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Bristol 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
22 min 16% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Marlborough 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Tamworth School District | Marlborough School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.