Compare towns
Montgomery vs Brookline vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($358k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Russell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
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 | Montgomery | Brookline | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 796Highest |
531 |
487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45±12.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Montgomery and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±10.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Russell and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,000±$19kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,806±$37k 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,500±$29kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$302,800±$39k 9% below U.S. |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$825±$556Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,746 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±80.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.