The Town FilesSouthbridge Town, Massachusetts
City in Worcester County · population 17,740 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $294,800
- Household income
- $66,287
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.9
Southbridge Town is a city of 17,740 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $294,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 85% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Massachusetts towns.
How Southbridge Town ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Southbridge Town is worth $294,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $66,287, which is more affordable than 57% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,256 a month. 42.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southbridge Town | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,256 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $66,287 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 42.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Southbridge Town
| People | Southbridge Town | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Southbridge Town
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.4 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southbridge Town since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 19, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Southbridge Town itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Southbridge Town
5 public schools with 1,557 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southbridge High School | 9-12 | 465 | 12.6 |
| Southbridge Middle School | 6-8 | 428 | 11.6 |
| Eastford Road | PK-1 | 345 | 11.1 |
| Charlton Street | PK-5 | 283 | 10.9 |
| Southbridge Academy | 6-12 | 36 | 5.1 |
Towns near Southbridge Town
- Sturbridge, MA4.2 mi · 9,867 people · home $425,800
- Dudley, MA5.1 mi · 11,921 people · home $392,600
- Fiskdale, MA6.0 mi · 2,797 people · home $409,300
- Charlton, MA6.1 mi · 13,315 people · home $427,500
- Woodstock, CT6.5 mi · 8,221 people · home $417,200
- Holland, MA7.6 mi · 2,603 people · home $333,600
- Webster, MA8.2 mi · 12,194 people · home $333,100
- Brookfield, MA9.2 mi · 3,439 people · home $341,900
Southbridge Town questions
Is Southbridge Town, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southbridge Town scores better for retirees than 3% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 7%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Southbridge Town?
The median owner-occupied home in Southbridge Town is valued at $294,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,287, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,256 a month.
What is the weather like in Southbridge Town?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 52.4 inches of snow.
Does Southbridge Town get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southbridge Town since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)