Compare towns
Bristol vs Tamworth vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Tamworth has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | Bristol | Tamworth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098Lowest |
2,884Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.6±10.9Highest 5% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Tamworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 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+ | 28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 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 | $73,993±$24kHighest 25% below NH |
$68,036±$20k 31% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Bristol and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,400±$27k 41% below NH |
$366,800±$29kHighest 9% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120Highest 14% below NH |
$1,110±$184 26% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bristol and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,474 33% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
22 minLowest 16% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Bristol 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #101 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Tamworth School District | Ashland School District |
| High school 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.