What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russell has the youngest population (median age 45).

Russell has the most kids (10.4% 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	Russell
People
Population	487Lowest	1,197Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±12.8Lowest 13% above MA	47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA
	Russell 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%	10.4%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Russell and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Russell 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%	30.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Russell and Russell 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	$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA
	Russell 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	$303,300±$32kHighest 46% below MA
	Russell and Russell 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	$1,013±$330Highest 43% below MA
	Russell and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA	$5,104Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.3%±80.6Highest MA: 51.8%	25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Russell 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%	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 3% above MA
Work from home	6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Russell 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.