Compare towns
Tamworth vs Ossipee vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tamworth has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Tamworth | Ossipee | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,884Lowest |
4,521Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±10.9 5% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Ossipee and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Tamworth and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±7 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,036±$20kLowest 31% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
| Ossipee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,800±$29kHighest 9% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Tamworth and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$184 26% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,474Highest 33% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.6%±31.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth and Lancaster 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Tamworth School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | White Mountains Regional 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.