Compare towns
Westfield vs Woonsocket 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378 |
43,521Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% 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±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$303,300±$32kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Westfield and Woonsocket 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. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,013±$330Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,104Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Westfield 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Russell and Westfield 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Westfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Woonsocket High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| 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.