Tamworth’s natural beauty makes it a four-season escape
Bordering the southern edge of White Mountain National Forest, Tamworth is a rural town in Carroll County far from any major city. “It’s a year-round vacation spot with lakes, mountains, hiking, skiing in the winter and boating in the summer,” says Chip Hornbeek, an agent at Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty who sells across Carroll County. “I get to live where others come to play.” Tamworth attracts a mix of permanent and seasonal residents to eastern New Hampshire. “We used to joke, ‘On Columbus Day, we get our state back,’ but not so much now. There were a lot of people during COVID who came here to escape the big cities, so this has become a lot more of a year-round spot than it used to be. It dies down some, but for the most part, it’s year-round.” The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Quiet roads, wooded lots and a wide range of home prices in Tamworth
The residential landscape includes Cape Cods, cabins and ranch-style homes. Some sit side-by-side along unmarked country roads, while others are tucked away in the trees or set back on farmland. Members of the Chocorua Ski & Beach Club drive through a covered wooden bridge to enter the private community, home to a mix of permanent and seasonal residents. This neighborhood has its own beach along the shore of Moore’s Pond and HOA fees cost around $30 per month. Home prices throughout Tamworth range from about $150,000 to $730,000, depending on size and accompanying acreage. As of September 2025, the median single-family home price is about $390,000. Buyers might also come across properties priced as high as $2.8 million, which offer additional privacy, more square footage and features like onsite barns. Properties along brooks and rivers have an increased risk of flooding, while homes in the woods face an increased risk of forest fires.
Tamworth supports active outdoor lifestyles
Between the Ossipee Mountain range and White Mountain National Forest, Tamworth offers a scenic natural landscape to explore. Walking paths and nature preserves are abundant, which lend themselves to forest hikes and birdwatching year-round and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. White Lake State Park has camping and picnicking facilities; alternatively, visitors can rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards on the lake, or go for a swim. There are plenty of spots for fishing and sailing on the lakes, ponds, brooks and rivers of Tamworth. Residents are also about 15 miles northeast of Lake Winnipesaukee, a popular watersports and fishing destination.
Tamworth preserves history and promotes art
Despite its rural location, the town has a history of cultural entertainment. In 1931, Francis Cleveland—son of President Grover Cleveland, who occasionally visited Tamworth— founded The Barnstormers Theatre. Today, it is the oldest continuously running professional summer theater group in the United States. Since 1966, The Arts Council of Tamworth has supported a range of artistic and cultural programming for the town. The Remick Country Doctor and Farm Museum showcases rural medical care in New England over the past 200 years; visitors can attend workshops about farm life and tour the gardens. Additionally, residents use the renovated 18th-century Town House for various gatherings, from baby showers to dance classes.
Local shops and eateries highlight New Hampshire flavors
There are a few shops and eateries along Route 16, like Dollar General and Rosie’s Restaurant, a casual brunch spot. Local and homegrown goods are widely available in and around Tamworth. New Hampshire Country Store carries toys, sweets, home décor and nonperishables, while Farm to Table Market sells sandwiches, smoothies and salads, plus local produce, meat, eggs and baked goods. Eldridge Family Sugar House & Ice Cream Shoppe offers maple-flavored treats, a New England specialty. New Hampshire Mushroom Company sells tinctures and tea blends, and hosts events where folks can forage for their own mushrooms in the forest. The nearest Walmart Supercenter is about 17 miles away in North Conway.
Kennth A. Brett School and Kennett High School serve the area
Elementary and middle school students may attend Kenneth A. Brett School, located in the center of town and rated C-minus on Niche. Through Tamworth’s Artist in Residency program, students can learn directly from professional artists who come from all over New England for one week per semester. The program culminates with student presentations and artistic performances. Students may advance to B-minus-rated Kennett High School in North Conway.
Tamworth is car-dependent with regional road connections
Tamworth is a car-dependent area with no public transportation stops in town. While heavily trafficked thoroughfares don’t pass through Tamworth, the community is still well-connected to the rest of New England. State Route 16 takes drivers northeast to Conway and about 20 miles to MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway. Tamworth is about 65 miles north of Portsmouth International Airport.
