What is the cost of living in Norwood, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Norwood has an overall cost of living index of 150, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Norwood has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Norwood ranks as #75 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Norwood ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Norwood, check out:
Norwood Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Norwood. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Norwood is 105.
The Groceries index in Norwood is 110.
The Health index in Norwood is 230.
The Housing index in Norwood is 118.
The Transportation index in Norwood is 115.
The Utilities index in Norwood is 115.
| Living Expense | Norwood | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 150 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 230 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Norwood Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Norwood, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Norwood is $731,791.
The Median Rent in Norwood is $2,116.
The Median Income in Norwood is $107,030.
The Home Value To Income in Norwood is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Norwood is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Norwood | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $731,791 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,116 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $107,030 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.8x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Norwood, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Norwood Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Norwood | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Norwood Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Norwood | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Norwood Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Norwood | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Norwood Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Norwood | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Norwood Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Norwood | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Norwood SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Norwood
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Norwood. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.4x Norwood.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.5x Norwood.
Arlington, MA has a cost of living index of 173, 1.2x Norwood.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.4x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.5x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.2x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.4x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.4x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.6x |
| Milton, MA | 28,587 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.4x |
| Dedham, MA | 25,237 | 154 | 1.0x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.4x |
