What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Norwood	Northampton
People
Population	31,542Highest	30,962Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA
	Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.7Highest 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+	55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA	$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,111Highest about the MA average	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Highest 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	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54%Lowest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	21 minLowest 26% below MA
Work from home	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#176 of 282 in MA	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwood	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Norwood High	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.7Highest
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.