What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Blackstone	Bow
People
Population	9,255Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Blackstone and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Lowest 83% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Blackstone 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	#207 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Bow School District
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.