What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Woburn
People
Population	31,542Lowest	41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.3±1.6Highest about the MA average
	Woburn 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%	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Norwood and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norwood and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Woburn and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average	$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA
	Woburn and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA
	Woburn and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$83Lowest 20% above MA	$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA
	Woburn and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,111Highest about the MA average	$5,354Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Woburn and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54%Lowest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	16.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norwood and Woburn 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	#176 of 282 in MA	#169 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwood	Woburn
High school in town	Norwood High	Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.2Lowest
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.