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Living in
Norwood.
Norwood is an unincorporated community in Norfolk County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Norwood
Norwood works well if you want suburban living with a straightforward commute to Boston—three MBTA commuter rail stations get you to the city in around 30 minutes, which beats driving on I-95 during rush hour. The median home price sits around $651,700 with median rent at $2,116, so you're paying Boston-area prices but getting more space than you'd find closer in. The job market is solid with 4.1% unemployment, and about 53% of residents hold college degrees, so you're in a fairly educated community.
Norwood at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
19.8%
Broadband Internet
94.8%
of households
Population Growth
+7.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.8% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Norwood: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Norwood, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (18.0%), and 8.4% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.2%
of households
Married Couples
47.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Norwood
In Norwood, rent runs 20% above the MA average, and home values are 16% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,111
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $727,524 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Norwood
Unemployment in Norfolk County, which includes Norwood, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Norwood: Norfolk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Norfolk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Norwood is about 4% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Norwood Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.3 min avg
How Norwood residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Norwood, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Norwood runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
122.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
592.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Norwood Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Norfolk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Norfolk County, which includes Norwood, the most common type is strong wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,200 |
| 2024 | 14 | High Wind | $4,200 |
| 2023 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,800 |
| 2022 | 25 | Strong Wind | $17,500 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $322,000 |
| 2020 | 57 | Strong Wind | $30.2M |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $90,800 |
| 2018 | 45 | Strong Wind | $240,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Norwood is about 4% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Norfolk County, which includes Norwood, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Norwood is about 4% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Norwood has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.7"
Annual Snowfall
56.1"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
136
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 21°F | 3.41" |
| Feb | 42°F | 22°F | 2.80" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 3.72" |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.96" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 3.30" |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 3.03" |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 77°F | 52°F | 3.82" |
| Oct | 66°F | 41°F | 4.54" |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 3.69" |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 4.09" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Norwood
Norwood has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
Norwood Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Westwood Pembroke Health Systems
Psychiatric · ER available · 1.6 mi away · Westwood
Walden Behavioral Care, Llc
Psychiatric · 2.6 mi away · Dedham
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Needham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Norwood
Norwood's student/teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 55.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
55.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Norwood
Private for-profit · 2-year · 185 students · in-state tuition $19,650 · 43% graduate · median earnings $62,057 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
11.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Adams National Historical Park, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Norwood
Norwood has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Adams National Historical Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
15 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayPublic Libraries in Norwood
Morrill Memorial Library
33 Walpole St., Norwood
Cities Near Norwood
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Norwood?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Norwood FAQ
Is Norwood, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Norwood's median rent is $2,116/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $107,030/year. Median home value is $651,700.
Is Norwood, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Norwood's violent crime rate was 123 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 593 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Norwood, Massachusetts?⌄
Norfolk County, which includes Norwood, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Norwood, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Norwood is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,116/month and median household income is $107,030/year. The median home value is $651,700. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Norwood, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Norwood is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from