What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).

Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northampton	Norwood
People
Population	30,962Lowest	31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA	$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA	$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA	$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA	$6,111Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Lowest 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%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	54%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 26% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
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	Norwood
High school in town	Northampton High	Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.