Compare towns
Russell vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
23,302Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6Lowest 19% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
| Wareham and Colrain 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% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Wareham 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% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Russell and Wareham 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104Highest 15% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Wareham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.