Compare towns
Chester vs Needham vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Russell has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Chester | Needham | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
32,459Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Needham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.