Compare towns
Russell vs Dudley vs Hancock
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).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dudley | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197 |
11,929Highest |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
| Russell and Hancock 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
| Russell and Hancock 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 |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Hancock 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 |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
| Hancock and Dudley 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hancock and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hancock |
| High school in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.