What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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.

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

Measure	Bow	Blackstone
People
Population	8,335Lowest	9,255Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.2±1.7Highest 11% 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	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4Lowest 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+	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±4.2Highest 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+	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.	$5,703Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65%±18.3Highest 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	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±4.7Lowest 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	#26 of 120 in NH	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	Bow School District	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Bow High School	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.6Highest
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.