Compare towns
Westfield vs Douglas vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Russell has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Westfield | Douglas | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
9,207 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Douglas and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Westfield | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.