Compare towns

Webster vs Westhampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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.

MeasureWebsterWesthamptonSouthbridge Town
People
Population
12,228
1,552Lowest
17,928Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±2.1Lowest
7% below MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
40.9±2.4
about the MA average
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1Lowest
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%
25.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.3%±1.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
19.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Webster 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
$63,837±$8kLowest
39% below MA
$100,000±$7kHighest
4% below MA
$66,287±$8k
36% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,100±$14k
41% below MA
$413,200±$24kHighest
26% below MA
$294,800±$18kLowest
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$85Lowest
32% below MA
$1,304±$229Highest
26% below MA
$1,256±$79
29% below MA
Westhampton 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
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$4,400
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±7.4
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.8%±8.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Southbridge Town and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
MA: 10%
6.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
15.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
45.5%
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
42.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
1956
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
about the MA average
Work from home
7.1%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
4.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #271 of 282 in MA — #282 of 282 in MA
School district — Hampshire · Westhampton Southbridge
High school in town — Hampshire Regional High Southbridge High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0Highest
9.8Lowest
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.