What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russell has the highest household income ($109k).

Blandford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

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	Blandford
People
Population	1,197Highest	1,156Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-1.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.7±7.6Lowest 19% above MA	52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA
	Blandford 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%	13.1%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Blandford and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	34.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Russell and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA	$91,902±$13kLowest 12% below MA
	Russell and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$303,300±$32kHighest 46% below MA	$287,900±$18kLowest 49% below MA
	Russell and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA	$1,047±$459Highest 41% below MA
	Blandford and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,104Highest 15% below MA	$3,641Lowest 39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	29.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Blandford and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest MA: 10%	5.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	36 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.8%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Blandford 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.