What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russell has the most people working from home (9.2%).

Chester has the most kids (24.1% 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	Chester
People
Population	1,197Lowest	1,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA	45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA
	Russell and Chester 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%	24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Russell and Chester 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	$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA
	Russell and Chester 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	$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA
	Russell and Chester 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	$1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA
	Chester 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	$4,522Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chester 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%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	9.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Gateway
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.