Norwood

In 1697, Norwood’s first settlers were attracted to North Norwood’s vast marshland, and even to this day, the area still has an element of that nature. Located about 15 miles south of Boston, this Boston suburb is dotted with acres of conservation land, gravel hiking routes, towering white pine trees and babbling brooks. Despite its forested features, the region is anything but secluded. “This area is right between the town of Westwood and downtown Northwood, and residents tend to visit those places interchangeably,” says Anne Fahy, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty who has sold many homes in the area. “This location is nice because houses in Westwood are usually a bit pricier than Norwood.” With architectural features such as wood frames and front porches with vinyl railings, properties in Norwood Center have a distinctive New England feel. Built from the late 1800s through the 20th century, homes in the community sit along narrow country roads, and yard spaces are often between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet. Smaller cottages, bungalows, ranch styles and traditional farmhouses with gabled roofs start around $400,000, while larger raised ranches, Colonial Revivals and Cape Cods may fetch around $1 million. Townhouses range from $450,000 to $750,000, and condos go between $300,000 and $500,000. Prospective primary schools include Balch Elementary School and Charles J. Prescott Elementary School, each rates a B and an A-minus Niche grade. Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School has a B, while Norwood High School receives a B-plus. Norwood High offers the Global Citizenship Program Certificate, which requires proficiency in a second language as well as demonstrating international relationship skills. AP and dual-enrollment coursework are also provided by the school. Conrad's Restaurant is a family-owned spot with a full bar offering classic entrees such as steak and prime rib, and Lewis' Restaurant & Grille has burgers and beer. Byblos Restaurant is an upscale Lebanese eatery with belly dancing performances on weekends. SPoT!, a local institution and a bagel shop, often has people waiting in line for about 30 minutes for its signature bagel sandwich. Norwood Plaza has Shaw’s, CVS and additional businesses, and Apna Bazar is a local Indian grocery store. The farmers market opens in June, and people can shop locally grown produce. Additionally, there is a Costco in nearby Dedham, a Wegman’s in Westwood, and Walmart is about 5 miles south in Walpole. The Norwood Civic Center, home to the town’s Recreation Department, houses many recreational and sports programs, including fitness classes, art classes, basketball and field hockey. Many public parks, fields and playgrounds are spread throughout Norwood. Endean Park, which is by Coakley Middle School, has public tennis courts, a playground and a baseball complex while also home to the Norwood Community Garden. Hawes Pool is nearby with a spray park. Hennessey Field, Shattuck Park and Murphy Field at Pleasant Park are popular spots for walks and sports games. Ellis Pond is a local place for fishing. U.S. Route 1 runs through Norwood and Interstate 95 borders the town, providing commuters with easy access to the highway. Boston and the Boston Logan International Airport are about 25 miles and 30 miles northeast via Interstate 95, and St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is about 14.5 miles north. Norwood Urgent Care is about 3.5 miles south, and the Jain Center of Greater Boston is 2 miles west of the town. While the town is largely car-dependent, Norwood has two commuter rail stations, Norwood Depot and Norwood Central Station, which take commuters to Boston’s South Station via the Franklin/Foxboro Line. Mostly operating private flights, Norwood Memorial Airport sits adjacent to Norwood Center. Many community events take place in Norwood, including holiday celebrations for Independence Day, Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day. There are also outdoor music series in the summer and indoor concert series in the winter. Additional festivities include a Santa Parade and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Norwood Day is a town-wide fall festival featuring live performances, carnival rides, games for children, pumpkin painting and a costume contest. Norwood Theatre, which is by the Town Square, has musicals, theater performances, comedy shows and tribute bands.