What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montgomery has the most kids (22% under 18).

Russell has the shortest commute (29 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Montgomery	Russell
People
Population	796Highest	487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	45±12.8Lowest 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%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4%	4.5%±8.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±0.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	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 18% above MA	$106,806±$37kLowest about the MA average
	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	$302,800±$39kLowest 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	—	$825±$556 53% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,283Lowest 29% below MA	$4,746Highest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	30.3%±80.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Montgomery and Russell 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%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	9.4%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Montgomery and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.