A Postcard Town
Seen through
a New Lens

Diversity

“Norwood is the town everyone returns to,” said John Carroll, recent retiree and former town hall manager of Norwood, MA. Jieru Xu

In the suburban middle-class community of proud ‘townies’ who’ve never left - with a previous Town Hall Manager only recently retired after thirty nine years, the weight of change can feel stagnant, but according to Master Sung Ho Jung of Jung’s US Taekwondo Norwood, the library isn’t the only place where representatives of many of cultures meet.

After teaching in Korea for eight years, 5th Degree Black Belt Owner, Master Sung Ho Jung sought out on a quest to move his practice to Massachusetts. In search of a town that offered a good population, Master Sung Ho Jung moved to Norwood in November of 2015, a location he feels has great potential for developing his strategy. Master Sung Ho Jung recalls being welcomed by passersby on day one as a new resident exploring town, a community he says is very focused on education.

Children’s class at Jung’s US Taekwondo Norwood, 2/16/18. Jieru Xu

On a sapphire mat at Jung’s US Taekwondo Norwood students from America, India, China, South Korea, Greece, Honduras, Mexico and Spain huddle in a semicircle. Sitting center stage, Master Sung Ho Jung begins his lesson with an agenda that emphasizes mental education over physical education. “If the students understand what they’re instructed to do more deeply, they will train harder,” says Master Sung Ho Jung. “Even if nobody pushes them or they don’t want to learn, they’re going to keep pushing themselves because their perspective and thinking is changing.”

Commuter rail station of Norwood Central. Jieru Xu

A wave of immigration came to Norwood in the late 1800’s along with shrill honks of the Franklin Line train passing through the Norwood Depot MBTA Commuter Rail station, says Joan Feely, banker loan officer retiree. “Norwood has been a melting pot because even though the town is small area-wise, the railroad went through here, prompting industry and ready jobs for immigrants. While most immigration in earlier generations was from Europe, immigration to Norwood became much more global as time went on,” says Feeley.

Norwood was a town of many nicknames for Feeley’s mother growing up, “with a few relating to countries of origin for the majority of residents, such as Dublin, Cork City and Swedeville.” Sixty-four year-old Norwood resident, Feely recalls a good portion of the town being of Irish, Italian or Polish descent in her adolescent years, and credits Norwood for its ability to “adapt to the time.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Kim Bassett, President and CEO at Steward Norwood Hospital. Bassett began her role in April, 2015 and has felt “diversity shifting” every day since. Norwood’s close proximity to Boston creates a fierce competitor in the healthcare field, and for this reason it has adapted new practices to attract and retain its client base. “Now our interpreter services cater to top languages like Spanish and Portuguese, whereas in the past non-native English speakers relied on bringing somebody with them to appointments,” explains Bassett.

Source: NeighborhoodScout.com Made by Jieru Xu

Among a staff of 1,300 employees, 60% have been working in Norwood for ten years or more, Bassett explains, some tracing back twenty, thirty even forty years. In conjunction with a company that can interpret over 200 languages and dialects, Steward Norwood Hospital is setting the stakes high to uphold a community - with residents both old and new - “where people don’t want to leave,” says Bassett, a perspective shared by VA Boston Healthcare System - Registered Nurse, Chrissy Lyons.

Transit

“The reason that a lot of people stay in Norwood or return to Norwood is multifactorial,” Lyons says. Ideally located for professionals commuting to the city, “Norwood is still close enough to partake in the Boston nightlife but live in the suburbs,” Lyons explains, “and has a lot of restaurants, so you never get bored of the food options.”

Video of Yamato Hibachi & Sushi Bar in Norwood, MA. Jieru Xu

Selecting Norwood over Chinatown came down to cheaper rent for Geven Tian, owner of Yamato Hibachi & Sushi Bar, but in exchange he faces a less densely populated client-base.

“I saw a lot of car rental agencies here when I first passed by and felt Norwood will have a lot of potentials for me to do business,” says Tian, “but the visitor-flow rate is relatively low and only a small amount of Asian customers come to my sushi bar.” Originally from China, Tian’s business has earned a 4.5 Yelp score within only three months of opening, a rating four neighboring Sushi Bars could not compete with despite their over 10-year run. Despite the positive feedback, the patterns of his customer base clash against Tian’s original confidence in Norwood’s nice environment and convenient transportation.

Lifestyle

Though taking the train to Boston with friends posed an exciting adventure while growing up, forensic social worker Ellen Judith was equally satisfied sauntering about Washington Street into Perks Coffeehouse. “Norwood has many establishments like the Olde Colonial Cafe and Irish Heaven that have been community favorites for decades,” says Judith, who was often found at a Norwood High sporting event hooting and hollering among a sea of old-timers in the bleachers. “There are school teachers I had as a child that are still teaching in Norwood,” Judith says, and “people still come together and rally around one another, especially in times of need.”

Housing

Source: Norwood Town website , Franklin Town website , Wrentham Town website , Plainville Town website , Foxborough Town website , Norton Town website , Mansfield Town website , Easton Town website , Brockton Town website , Norfolk Town website , Sharon Town website , Boston City website .
Residential tax rate of Norwood and its neighboring areas. Jieru Xu

“The lower property tax rate of Norwood came into play for my husband and I when we were buying our first home,” says Mediation, Training, and Facilitation Consultant Victoria Moreno-Jackson from Louisiana. The couple lived in Providence, Rhode Island and Walpole, Massachusetts for eight years prior.

Thirty-eight years ago, retired teacher Maureen Smith and her husband moved from Newton, Massachusetts to Norwood for its affordability. Originally from Boston, Smith settled down in Norwood, purchasing the newly constructed home from her aunt and uncle valued then at $55,000 but now at $460,000. Despite the rise in housing prices over the years, younger people jump on Norwood apartments and settle down if they can afford it. The closer you are to Boston, the higher the property rates will be in contrast to Norwood, “says Smith, “in part due to the local businesses that pay taxes, such as car dealerships.”

“Research done by anyone looking for housing would see Norwood to be a stable, upper middle class community with lower property taxes per house - in comparison to twenty towns on the South Shore,” says Carroll. The strong neighborhood ties leave Smith excited for the future. “There were plenty of activities for kids when I was raising my family and there will be senior activities for me in a few years.”