Compare towns
Russell vs Dedham vs Montgomery
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 most affordable homes ($303k median).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Montgomery has the most kids (22% 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.
| Measure | Russell | Dedham | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197 |
25,237Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Montgomery 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24kLowest 5% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$123,000±$19k 18% above MA |
| Dedham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$357,500±$29k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104 15% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,283Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Montgomery 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.