Compare towns
Westfield vs Pawtucket vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Pawtucket | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378 |
75,893Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8 about the U.S. average |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.7±7.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Russell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$108,750±$24kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Russell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
$325,500±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 21% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Pawtucket and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746 52% above U.S. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,104Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westfield and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Westfield | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | William E. Tolman High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.