Compare towns
Russell vs Acton vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Russell has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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.
| Measure | Russell | Acton | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
24,155Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Colrain and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.