Compare towns
Webster vs Ripton vs Southbridge Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Southbridge Town has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
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 | Webster | Ripton | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228 |
508Lowest |
17,928Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Southbridge Town and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$66,287±$8k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$294,800±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,256±$79Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Southbridge Town and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Southbridge Town and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southbridge |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.