Compare towns
Northampton vs Chilmark vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Norwood has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Northampton | Chilmark | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962 |
1,578Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwood and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,116±$83 20% above MA |
| Chilmark and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 5% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,111Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Up-Island Regional | Norwood |
| High school in town | Northampton High | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| 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.