What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).

Hancock has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

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	Russell	Hancock
People
Population	487Lowest	752Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±12.8Lowest 13% above MA	47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA
	Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	4.5%±8.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Russell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,806±$37kHighest about the MA average	$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA
	Russell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,800±$39kLowest 46% below MA	$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$825±$556Lowest 53% below MA	$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA
	Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Highest 21% below MA	$1,018Lowest 83% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±80.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Hancock
High school in town	—	None in town
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.