What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southbridge Town has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Southbridge Town	Everett
People
Population	17,928Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±2.4Highest about the MA average	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	21.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Southbridge Town and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Southbridge Town and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,287±$8kLowest 36% below MA	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$18kLowest 48% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,256±$79Lowest 29% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA	$4,880Highest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.8%±8.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Highest MA: 10%	14.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	4.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#282 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Southbridge	Everett
High school in town	Southbridge High School	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.