What stands out worked out from the figures below

Watertown has the most people working from home (29.1%).

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	Watertown	Norwood
People
Population	35,543Highest	31,542Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.3Highest about the MA average	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Watertown and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.3%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Watertown and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Watertown and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,265±$6kHighest 21% above MA	$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$784,600±$31kHighest 40% above MA	$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,502±$107Highest 42% above MA	$2,116±$83Lowest 20% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Highest 13% above MA	$6,111Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwood and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	29.1%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#171 of 282 in MA	#176 of 282 in MA
School district	Watertown	Norwood
High school in town	Watertown High	Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.5Highest
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.