The Basics: Address, Units, and Verified Pricing
Norwood Gardens sits on the Canton and Sharon line of Norwood, under a mile from the Norwood MBTA commuter-rail station and under 15 minutes from Legacy Place, the Westwood Amtrak stop, and University Station shops, according to the property’s leasing site. One-bedroom units run roughly 725 to 1,300 square feet; floor plans span one, two, and three bedrooms, all single-level within their buildings. Heat and hot water are bundled into rent, confirmed independently by Redfin’s listing data. Schools serving the address, per GreatSchools data reported through Apartments.com, include Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School in the Norwood district, with nearby Oldham Elementary rated 6 out of 10 and Norwood High School rated 7 out of 10.
Amenities: pool, tennis court, putting green, an outdoor fitness trail, a fitness center, a resident lounge, and conference rooms.
Why Listed Prices Don’t Agree
Four independent sources quote different starting prices for a one-bedroom in the same window of time: $2,100 on RentCafe, $2,100 to $4,315 across the full unit mix on ApartmentRatings, and $2,300 as the stated floor on ApartmentList. None of the three timestamps its figure clearly enough to say which is most current.
That instability matters more for a 1983-built, 344-unit property than for a small building: with this many units turning over, a stale feed on any one aggregator is the norm.
What Residents Say, Beyond the Marketing Copy
Strip away the platform-generated summary paragraph (RentCafe’s own synthesis reads as boilerplate that could describe almost any suburban complex) and look at the individual, attributed reviews instead. The recurring themes split into two columns.
| Theme | What residents report | How often it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance responsiveness | Quick repair turnaround, strong snow removal | Named across multiple reviews, both platforms |
| Noise isolation | Walls described as well-insulated between units | Mentioned in several long-tenure reviews |
| Trash removal | Grounds not consistently cleared by the landscaping contractor | Shows up in at least two separate accounts |
| Parking, seasonal | Overnight permit enforcement and towing added specifically for November through April | Named as the top complaint in a six-year-tenant review |
| Unit layout | No elevators anywhere; many units lack in-unit washer and dryer; kitchens run small | Consistent across reviews describing the 1983 construction |
The trash and parking complaints are operational, tied to a contractor and an enforcement policy. The elevator and kitchen size issues are structural and won’t change without renovation.
How strict is the overnight parking situation? One long-tenure reviewer on ApartmentRatings reported that the property began ticketing and towing unpermitted overnight cars specifically between November and April, after years without that enforcement; check current visitor and second-car parking rules with the leasing office before signing if overnight guests are a regular need.
A six-year resident’s ApartmentRatings review, dated to a tenancy window in the late 2010s to early 2020s based on the review thread, is the most detailed independent account available. It credits the property with better value than newer complexes nearby, praises snow removal specifically, and lists the lease-break cost as expensive without stating a number.
Is there an elevator at Norwood Gardens? No. All 344 units sit in three buildings of two to three stories with no elevator access, per multiple resident accounts and the building’s single-level unit design.
Built in 1983: What the Building’s Age Explains
The three buildings date to 1983, per RentCafe’s property record. That vintage lines up with the complaints above: no elevators, smaller kitchens than a 2016-or-later build would have, and a mix where some units never got retrofitted with in-unit laundry.
Pet Policy, Fees, and Lease Terms
| Pet type | Weight limit | Breed restrictions | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat | None stated | None | $45 pet rent |
| Dog | 40 lb per pet | Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Doberman, Chow Chow, Presa Canario, Akita, wolf hybrids, Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd excluded | $60 pet rent |
| Combined household | 2 pets maximum | Applies per building; dogs allowed only in select buildings | Fees combine |
Both figures come from RentCafe’s published pet policy, cross-checked against Redfin’s listing, which repeats the same breed list.
How It Compares to Nearby Norwood Options
Norwood as a whole averages $2,242 a month across all rentals, against a $1,645 national average, per Apartments.com’s Norwood market page. Two other Norwood properties have enough published detail to compare directly.
| Property | Starting price | Elevator | In-unit laundry | Distance to Norwood commuter rail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwood Gardens (105 Hampden Dr) | $2,100 to $2,300 | No | Some units only | Under 1 mile |
| Norwest Woods (1 Norwest Dr) | $2,055 to $2,320 | No, two-story townhomes | Yes, most units | About 1 mile, shuttle offered |
| One Upland (8 Upland Woods Cir) | Roughly $2,580 to $2,710 | Yes | Yes, all units | Roughly 2 miles |
Sources: Apartments.com Norwest Woods listing, RentCafe Norwest Woods, ApartmentFinder One Upland. Norwest Woods does not include heat and hot water, which narrows its price gap with Norwood Gardens once utilities are added. One Upland costs several hundred dollars more a month but is the only one of the three with an elevator and full in-unit laundry.
Is Norwood Gardens good value against other Norwood options? At the low end of its price range it undercuts both alternatives listed here, but Norwest Woods closes much of that gap once utility costs are added, and One Upland costs more while solving the elevator and laundry gaps Norwood Gardens has.
Who Norwood Gardens Fits Best
Commuters who want a short drive or shuttle to Norwood’s MBTA stop and don’t need an elevator get the most value here, particularly at the lower end of the disputed price range. Renters who need step-free access, in-unit laundry in every unit, or newer construction should compare One Upland directly before touring. Anyone weighing an early move-out should get the lease-break terms in writing at application.
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