Compare towns
Westfield vs Windham 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
Westfield has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
16,038 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
47.7±7.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Russell and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,750±$24k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 21% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,104 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Westfield | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

