Compare towns
Southbridge Town vs Everett vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southbridge Town has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Gardner has the most homeowners (58.9%).
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 | Southbridge Town | Everett | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,928Lowest |
50,045Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$18kLowest 48% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,256±$79 29% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±8.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 4.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Everett 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 | #282 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southbridge | Everett | Gardner |
| High school in town | Southbridge High School | Everett High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.