Southbridge

Southbridge

Located in Worcester County

$376,138 Average Value
$236 Average Price per Sq Ft
17 Homes For Sale

The Eye of the Commonwealth has a bustling Main Street and a natural setting

Once home to the world's largest eyewear manufacturer in the late 1800s, Southbridge is a south central Massachusetts town still dubbed “The Eye of the Commonwealth.” The factory is now a hotel, but vintage sunglasses and optometry machines in the Optical Heritage Museum preserve the town’s history. Century-old churches and red-brick, Italianate-style bars and cafes line Main Street. Nature lovers can explore trails that wind through the town’s dense evergreen and hardwood forests.

Southbridge's calm suburban streets are just minutes from downtown.
Southbridge's calm suburban streets are just minutes from downtown.
Central Baptist Church is an architectural icon in Downtown Southbridge.
Central Baptist Church is an architectural icon in Downtown Southbridge.
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Southbridge has multi-families near Main Street and large lots on the outskirts

Sidewalk-lined streets closest to the town’s core brim with multi-family properties built throughout the early 1900s. “Main Street has grown so much within the last decade. Now, we’ve got people from Boston and Worcester buying the surrounding multi-families to renovate each unit,” says Mary-Jo Demick, a Realtor with Aucoin Realty and a Southbridge local. Farther from the city's center, three-bedroom Cape Cods from the 1950s rest on quarter-acre lots with backyards enclosed by white picket fences. 1980s contemporary dwellings on the outskirts of town dot parcels as large as 2 acres, shaded by forests of hemlock and white pine trees. The town's median housing price is around $330,000, on par for the region but lower than the national median.

Southbridge is home to a large number of multi-family homes.
Southbridge is home to a large number of multi-family homes.
A mixture of Cape Cods and Saltbox homes make for varied streetscapes in Southbridge.
A mixture of Cape Cods and Saltbox homes make for varied streetscapes in Southbridge.
Second Empire buildings still stand amongst Southbridge's unique mix of architectural styles.
Second Empire buildings still stand amongst Southbridge's unique mix of architectural styles.
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Several recreational options in Southbridge

Since 1934, Solair has been a go-to for New England nudists, where they can swim in the Olympic-sized pool or tan on the lake's sandy shoreline. Private hiking and biking trails don’t extend past the Cohasse Brook Reservoir in the town's southernmost region. Clapboard lakeside cabins are reserved for members, while RV parking spaces and wooden tent platforms are available to rent starting on Memorial Day Weekend. Hikers not in the buff can trek the mile-long loop at Thompson Family Forever Wild Preserve, filled with pre-colonial stone walls, towering maple trees and overgrown pastures. Designed in 1916 by Donald Ross, Cohasse Country Club has a 9-hole golf course stretching across hilly terrain and a namesake brook. At the Tri-community Family Branch YMCA, indoor amenities include a six-lane swimming pool, a fitness center and a rock climbing wall.

Morris Street Recreation area welcomes four-legged friends for playdates.
Morris Street Recreation area welcomes four-legged friends for playdates.
Thompson Family Preservation has 40 acres of protected land for hiking and wildlife observation.
Thompson Family Preservation has 40 acres of protected land for hiking and wildlife observation.
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A unique educational pipeline for Southbridge Public Schools

Children here can attend pre-kindergarten through first grade at Eastford Road Elementary, which has a C grade from Niche, and then continue to C-minus-rated Charlton Street School and D-plus-graded Southbridge Middle. Lastly, students may go to Southbridge High School, earning a C-minus grade. The Early College program offers educational pathways focused on fields like humanities, engineering and musical theater.

Eastford Road School serves Westville students from Pre-K through the 5th grade.
Eastford Road School serves Westville students from Pre-K through the 5th grade.
Southbridge Middle School.
Southbridge Middle School.
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Southbridge’s Main Street has quaint eateries, a local grocery store and Harrington Hospital

Vintage lampposts, American flags and locally owned eateries line Southbridge’s Main Street. Since 2006, residents have sat in Elm Centre Café’s red leather booths to eat reimagined breakfast classics like red velvet pancakes and burger eggs Benedict. String lights hang from the walls at The Metro Bistrot, a provincial French restaurant only open Thursday through Saturday. Down the street, Corner Pocket Café is a dive bar brimming with Red Sox and Celtics gear. Groceries are available at Big Bunny Market, a family owned option in the area since the early 1950s. Local produce farmers, beekeepers and bakers set up tents in the store’s parking lot every Saturday morning from Memorial Day until Colombus Day for the Southbridge Farmers Market. The thoroughfare is also home to UMass Memorial Harrington Hospital, which employs more than 1,500 people across south central Massachusetts. Nationally known retailers like Walmart and Marshalls are in The Center at Hobbs Brook, an open-air shopping center about 5 miles away on Charlton Road.

After having a bite at Honest Town Eats, enjoy its colorful art right outside with seating.
After having a bite at Honest Town Eats, enjoy its colorful art right outside with seating.
Central Pizza offers outdoor seating being an attraction for warm weather seasons.
Central Pizza offers outdoor seating being an attraction for warm weather seasons.
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Holiday parades down Main Street and optometry conferences at the Optical Heritage Museum

Led by the high school marching band, superheroes and ghosts walk along Main Street for the Horribles Parade every Halloween. Inflatable Christmas trees atop pick-up trucks drive down the same thoroughfare for the Holiday Visions Parade, which ends with a tree lighting at the Town Common. “We have a summer concert series at the Town Common. Everyone brings a camping chair to watch, and there are local food vendors,” says Demick. The white marble bricks, bronze double doors and 210-foot-tall bell tower have made Notre Dame Catholic Church, built in 1916, a fixture of Southbridge. In June, Mexican food vendors, French flags and face painters fill the parking lot for the church's annual International Festival. Eye doctors flock to Southbridge in November for the Opticians Association of Massachusetts annual conference at the Optical Heritage Museum, which has year-round exhibits on the evolution of sunglasses and eyewear in movies.

Under an hour to numerous northeastern cities

“We have lots of employment opportunities within Southbridge, like Hyde Manufacturing or Dexter-Russell, but we’re also a commuter-oriented town,” says Demick. While the nearby Southbridge Municipal Airport is a hub for charter planes and pilots in training, the Worcester Regional Airport has the nearest commercial flights. Worcester is about 20 miles northeast via Interstate 90, just 4 miles away, and 63 miles in the same direction leads to Boston. Hartford and Providence are also about an hour away. Several Worcester Regional Transit Authority bus stops line Main Street.

Downtown Southbridge view west bound.
Downtown Southbridge view west bound.
Hannah Rainey
Written By
Hannah Rainey
Photography Contributed By
Jack Lourenco
Mark Barakat
Video By
Mark Barakat

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Robert Kushner, an experienced agent in this area.

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Southbridge Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$339,900
Median Sale Price
$335,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$355,379
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$395,700
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$199,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
92
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$1
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$236

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes for Sale
17
Months of Supply
2.20

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Jun 22
    12 - 2pm

    41 Edwards St, Southbridge, MA 01550

    $425,000

    • 9 Beds
    • 4 Baths
    • 5,670 Sq Ft
    • 41 Edwards St
    • New 5 days ago

    **A Must-See Property!** Don't let the building's age hold you back; this home has been extensively renovated. Enjoy an updated electrical system, new plumbing, a brand-new boiler, and on-demand hot water. The chef's kitchen features two gas stoves and two refrigerators, perfect for culinary endeavors. With over nine spacious bedrooms and four modern bathrooms, this home offers comfort and

    Tony Palmerino Real Broker MA, LLC

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Southbridge Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
17,651
Median Age
40
Population under 18
23.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$52,050
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$75,374

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
82.9%
College Graduates
17.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.8%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
48''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
79°F
Annual Snowfall
45''
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Southbridge
Robert Kushner
Cal Nevada Real Estate