Compare towns
Russell vs Upton 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 most affordable homes ($303k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
8,189 |
40,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Russell and Upton 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% |
18.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Westfield 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$87,753±$6kLowest 16% 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±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330 43% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,117±$60Highest 37% below MA |
| Westfield 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 |
$4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Westfield 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Westfield |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.