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Cost of living, pay and housing

42.06° N · 72.03° W · GEOID 2563345

Southbridge Town

Worcester County, Massachusetts · part of the Worcester, MA metro

Computed by Citytistics from 13 public sources · Data bundle checked 2026-11-14 · How we calculate

MassachusettsSouthbridge Town, MASouthbridge TownSouthbridge Town

The short answer

Southbridge Town is home to 17,928 people. Median household income is $66,287 a year and median rent is $1,256 a month, 22.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $294,800, about 4.5x annual median household income.

Southbridge Town stands out on how people work. 5% of workers mostly work from home, fewer than in 92% of places its size. It is the 2nd-lowest of 121 Massachusetts places we track. Also notable: Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 20.9% to 22.7% of income.

14OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Southbridge Town scores better than 14% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 106th of 121 in Massachusetts.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%33
Economy 20%25
Safety 20%46
Amenities 15%40
Education 10%19
Commute 10%31
Growth 5%63
Median gross rent
$1,256
8% below the median place
Median household income
$66,287
17% below the median place
Median home value
$294,800
8% below the median place
Unemployment
7.2%
47% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Southbridge Town

  • AffordabilityAfter the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $51,000 a year, less than in 80% of the 1,884 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
  • Life nearby12 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 85% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Southbridge Town

Worcester County loses about 2.5 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in25,054
Moved out26,770
Net−1,716

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Middlesex County, MA7,6274,356+3,271
Norfolk County, MA1,6811,288+393
Suffolk County, MA1,4381,125+313
Providence County, RI763839−76
Hampden County, MA696905−209
Essex County, MA986558+428
Northeastern Connecticut Planning, CT789
Bristol County, MA596

Within Massachusetts, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MassachusettsOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$78K
Leavers$84K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Worcester County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
2.3% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.7% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Worcester County report $77,700 a year in income on average; those leaving, $84,000, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$50,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,256 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,138 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $294,800.
Getting to work
28 minutes each way on average; 4.8% work from home; 1.5% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Beaver Dam, WI matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
2.3%
60% below the median place
Income of households moving out7
$83,976
19% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$77,737
10% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureSouthbridge TownAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year12.3%60% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.7%15% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-2.5317% below
Income of households moving in7County figure$77,73710% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$83,97619% above
02

What it costs to live here

43% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 94% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Southbridge Town22.7%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$50,240
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
22.7%
11% above the median place
Home price to income
4.5x
17% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
23%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$50,700
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Southbridge Town, $1,256 a month, and local prices for everything else (100.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Southbridge Town, but easier on the budget

Places that match Southbridge Town on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Beaver Dam, WI8917.3% vs 22.7%n/aCompare
Washington Court House, OH8916.5% vs 22.7%n/aCompare
Portage, WI8818.7% vs 22.7%$3,300Compare
Clearfield, PA8815.2% vs 22.7%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Southbridge Town.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Southbridge Town? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
42.7%
36% below the median place
Median year built1
1956
1% below the median place
Vacant homes1
4.5%
37% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureSouthbridge TownAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2568% below
Rent to income122.7%11% above
Property tax rate11.5%64% above
Home price to income14.5x17% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure102.52% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,04327% above
Property tax paid (median)1$4,40035% above
Median home value1$294,8008% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure3.4%5% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure54.6%6% above
Homeownership142.7%36% below
Renters paying 30%+155.8%10% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,13814% above
Vacant homes14.5%37% below
Median year built119561% below
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 4.8%, 61% below the median place.

Works from home1
4.8%
61% below the median place
Unemployment1
7.2%
47% above the median place
Poverty rate1
15.3%
42% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Mean commute28 min +14%
Median household income$66,287 −17%
Income per person$35,249 −12%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureSouthbridge TownAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$66,28717% below
Income per person1$35,24912% below
Unemployment17.2%47% above
Average annual pay5County figure$74,03712% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.3%11% below
Jobs5County figure356,384137% above
Poverty rate115.3%42% above
Mean commute128 min14% above
Works from home14.8%61% below
Commutes by transit1County figure1.5%79% above
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 82.1%, 11% below the median place.

High school or higher1
82.1%
11% below the median place
No health insurance1
3.2%
50% below the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
19.4%
39% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad5.0% −43%
Homes with broadband89.8% −3%
Median age40.9 +5%
Household size2.4 −2%
All 9 people measures
MeasureSouthbridge TownAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population117,9282579th largest
Population change since 202062.1%82% above
Median age140.95% above
Bachelor's or higher119.4%39% below
High school or higher182.1%11% below
Household size12.42% below
Born abroad15.0%43% below
No health insurance13.2%50% below
Homes with broadband189.8%3% below
05

Life in Southbridge Town

About 16 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 91% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Founded or incorporated in 1730. 698 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 7 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents8.9 −12%
Playgrounds per 10k5.6 −41%
Grocery stores per 10k1.1 −47%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k3.9 −65%
Libraries per 10k1.1 +29%
Named paths and bike trails16 km 7.9×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Roger Williams National Memorial 36 miles
  • Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park 36 miles
  • Minute Man National Historical Park 46 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.1 −3%
Shops27.7 −9%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.5 −15%
Doctors' offices and clinics16.3 −19%
Child care centers2.7 +17%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
35.7
16% above the median place
Public schools13
256
above the median place (median 9)
Public school students13
121,490
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureSouthbridge TownAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13County figure256above (median 9)
Public school students13County figure121,490above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher13County figure12.916% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.13% below
Shops per 10k8County figure27.79% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure3.515% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure16.319% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.717% above
Parks per 10k98.912% below
Playgrounds per 10k95.641% below
Grocery stores per 10k91.147% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k93.965% below
Libraries per 10k91.129% above
Named paths and bike trails915.8above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1035.716% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1012above (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure698above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 352, 84% above the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
352
84% above the median place
Property crime per 100k
854
30% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

January average low14
16°F
38% below the median place
July average high14
82°F
6% below the median place
Hurricane risk15
96.6
37% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureSouthbridge TownAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure82°F6% below
January average low14County figure16°F38% below
Average temperature14County figure48°F13% below
Annual precipitation14County figure49.0 in12% above
Natural hazard risk15County figure93.51% above
Hurricane risk15County figure96.637% above
Tornado risk15County figure82.21% above
Wildfire risk15County figure62.62% above
Heat wave risk15County figure90.00% below
Median air quality index16County figure399% below
Good air days16County figure81.6%19% above
08

Southbridge Town in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 23% of the median income in 2030, up from 23% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Southbridge Town does better than 33% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 42%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,256/mo (2024)$1,630/mo$1,330 to $1,980/mo+4.4%
Median household income$66,287 (2024)$84,000$71,000 to $99,500+4.0%
Median home value$294,800 (2024)$420,000$305,000 to $579,000+6.1%
Population18,105 (2025)18,44017,690 to 19,230+0.4%

The median home would be worth 5.0 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.4 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Southbridge Town

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Lyons, IL$1,198$70,993Compare
Essex, MD$1,319$67,168Compare
Burton, SC$1,229$68,063Compare
Putnam, CT$1,147$65,511Compare
Putnam, CTBurton, SCEssex, MDLyons, ILSouthbridge Town, MASouthbridge TownLyonsEssexBurtonPutnamSouthbridge TownLyonsEssexBurtonPutnam

Compare Southbridge Town with

Places built like Southbridge Town

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Southbridge Town performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Southbridge Town, MA22.7%5.3%/yr2.1%
Webster, MA22.5%5.4%/yrn/aCompare
Claremont, NH23.3%4.4%/yr0.6%Compare
Holyoke, MA22.9%5.6%/yr-0.6%Compare
Putnam, CT21.0%3.0%/yrn/aCompare
Brunswick, GA28.3%7.5%/yr3.4%Compare
Norwich, CT23.1%2.7%/yr-0.3%Compare

Common questions

Is Southbridge Town a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 14 out of 100, better than 14% of the places we rate and 106th of 121 in Massachusetts. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $51,000 a year, less than in 80% of the 1,884 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. 12 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 85% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 10 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Southbridge Town expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 22.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $294,800.

What salary do you need to live in Southbridge Town?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $50,240 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Southbridge Town safe?

There were 352 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Southbridge Town?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Lyons, IL, Essex, MD, Burton, SC and Putnam, CT.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Southbridge Town with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Southbridge Town itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/southbridge-town-massachusetts

Citytistics. “Southbridge Town, Massachusetts.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/southbridge-town-massachusetts/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.