Compare towns
Westfield vs Upton 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
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 | Upton | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
8,189 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Russell 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60Highest 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,013±$330 43% below MA |
| Westfield and Russell 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%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 |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Westfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.