D-
9%
Overall NAT. AVG.
15%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
10%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Southbridge Town Massachusetts National
Cost of living109133100
Goods & Services115122100
Groceries102105100
Health care108113100
Housing110165100
Transportation93118100
Utilities112134100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Southbridge Town, MA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Southbridge Town? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Southbridge Town stands at 109, making it 9% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Southbridge Town closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Southbridge Town can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Southbridge Town goods and services are 15.3% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

Is Southbridge Town Affordable?

Is Southbridge Town an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Southbridge Town, the median home price is 16.1% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 3.4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Southbridge Town come in at $52,900, which is 4.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Southbridge Town?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Southbridge Town, the groceries index is 1.7% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Southbridge Town, the transportation index is 7.5% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Southbridge Town displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Southbridge Town Area
Search Homes for Sale in Southbridge Town, MA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Southbridge Town is 18% lower than the Massachusetts average
  • The cost of living in Southbridge Town is 9% higher than the national average
  • Southbridge Town housing is 10% higher than the national average
  • Massachusetts general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Massachusetts state income tax is 93% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Southbridge Town

See all the best places to live around Southbridge Town

Compare Southbridge Town, MA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Southbridge Town?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Southbridge Town?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Southbridge Town poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$81,175$6,765$1,894$2,435
      Renters$33,674$2,806$786$1,010
      The affordability of the housing market in Southbridge Town, MA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Southbridge Town homeowners, the median income is $81,175. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,894 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $33,674. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $786 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Massachusetts Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Massachusetts 6.25% 6.25%

      Massachusetts Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Massachusetts 5% 9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Southbridge Town National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.50$24.2629.8%
      Beauty Salon $49.92$45.569.6%
      Toothpaste $3.46$3.706.5%
      Shampoo $1.43$1.2811.4%
      Movie $14.37$12.1318.4%
      Bowling $22.72$18.0026.2%

      Groceries

      Item Southbridge Town National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.85$5.840.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.578.9%
      Milk $4.74$4.671.4%
      Potatoes $5.00$4.931.3%
      Pizza $11.59$12.094.1%
      Beer $10.74$10.413.1%

      Health Care

      Item Southbridge Town National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $104.45$125.6816.9%
      Doctor $169.83$135.7825.1%
      Dentist $130.28$113.2915.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.11$10.654.3%
      Lipitor $369.37$468.6021.2%

      Housing

      Item Southbridge Town National avg. Difference
      Home Price $214,500.00$184,700.0016.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,379.56$2,346.691.4%
      Apartment Rent $917.00$949.003.4%

      Transportation

      Item Southbridge Town National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.38$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $48.20$59.9219.6%

      Utilities

      Item Southbridge Town National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $230.62$193.9918.9%
      Phone $195.18$192.251.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Warren, MA546964.2%
      North Grosvenor Dale, CT1,1801032.6%
      Stafford Springs, CT4,7841043.8%
      Ware, MA5,9781044.1%
      Putnam, CT7,1381077.0%
      Southbridge Town, MA16,8651099.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Norwalk, OH16,8608910.8%
      Norcross, GA16,8761076.8%
      Lansdale, PA16,84611110.9%
      Wayne, MI16,8948910.7%
      Moraga, CA16,896239139.1%
      Southbridge Town, MA16,8651099.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.