Compare towns
Russell vs Townsend vs Westfield
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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Westfield has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Townsend | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
9,100 |
40,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Russell and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Westfield 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
| Townsend and Russell 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,117±$60 37% below MA |
| Townsend and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104 15% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Westfield 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Westfield |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.