Compare towns
Westfield vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sutton | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
9,452 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Westfield | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.