Compare towns
Russell vs Ware vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($358k 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 | Ware | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197 |
10,048Highest |
796Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Montgomery 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montgomery and Ware 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% |
24.9%±7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Ware 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Montgomery 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$123,000±$19kHighest 18% above MA |
| Montgomery 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$357,500±$29kHighest 36% below MA |
| Montgomery and Russell 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±$109Highest 41% below MA |
— |
| Ware and Russell 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 |
$4,283 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.4%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Montgomery 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| 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.