Compare towns
Webster vs Wareham vs Southbridge Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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 | Wareham | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Lowest |
23,302Highest |
17,928 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
40.9±2.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA |
$66,287±$8k 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$294,800±$18kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,256±$79 29% below MA |
| Wareham and Southbridge Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±8.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Southbridge Town and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | Southbridge |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.