Compare towns
Montgomery 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
Montgomery has the most homeowners (96.3%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Montgomery | Needham | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 796 |
32,459Highest |
487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45±12.8 13% above MA |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±8.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$106,806±$37kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$302,800±$39kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$825±$556Lowest 53% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,283Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,746 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±80.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Montgomery 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| 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.