What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the most people working from home (24.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Waltham	Norwood
People
Population	64,902Highest	31,542Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA	39±1.8Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norwood and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA	$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average
	Waltham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA	$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA	$2,116±$83Lowest 20% above MA
	Waltham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA	$6,111Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwood and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#217 of 282 in MA	#176 of 282 in MA
School district	Waltham	Norwood
High school in town	Waltham Sr High	Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.