Compare towns
Westfield vs Dracut 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).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Dracut | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
32,574 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Dracut 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% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2Lowest 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% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Dracut and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 37% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Westfield 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dracut 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 | #197 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Westfield | Dracut | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Dracut Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.