Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Oakham vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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 | Chesterfield | Oakham | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,055Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±7.6Lowest 11% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
| Oakham and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chesterfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,967±$11k about the MA average |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Oakham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$409 39% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Oakham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,969Highest about the MA average |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Oakham and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Chesterfield-Goshen | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.