What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russell has the highest household income ($107k).

Rowe has the most kids (23% 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	Rowe
People
Population	487Highest	453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	45±12.8Lowest 13% above MA	48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA
	Rowe 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%	23%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Russell and Rowe 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	$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA
	Russell and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,800±$39kHighest 46% below MA	$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA
	Russell and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$825±$556Lowest 53% below MA	$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA
	Rowe 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	$1,458Lowest 76% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±80.6Highest MA: 51.8%	11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Russell and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest MA: 10%	15.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%	7.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Rowe and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Rowe
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.