Compare towns
Montgomery vs Colrain vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most kids (22% under 18).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Russell has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Colrain | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 796Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
47.7±7.6Lowest 19% above MA |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Montgomery and Russell 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 18% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| 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 36% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Colrain and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Montgomery and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school 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.