Compare towns
Russell vs Ware 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 highest household income ($109k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Ware | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,673±$10k 22% below MA |
| Russell and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32kHighest 46% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Russell and Ware 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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,102±$77Highest 37% below MA |
| Colrain and Ware 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Colrain 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.