What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russell has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Montgomery has the most kids (22% 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	Montgomery
People
Population	487Lowest	796Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±12.8Lowest 13% above MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% 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	4.5%±8.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±7Highest 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+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	38.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.6Lowest 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	$106,806±$37kLowest about the MA average	$123,000±$19kHighest 18% 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	$302,800±$39kLowest 46% below MA	$357,500±$29kHighest 36% 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	$4,746Highest 21% below MA	$4,283Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±80.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	50%±100Highest 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	7%Highest MA: 10%	1.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.4%±6Highest 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.