Compare towns
Russell vs Upton vs Colrain
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Upton | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
| Colrain 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Colrain 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Upton 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±$32k 46% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330 43% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA |
| Colrain and Russell 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.