The Town FilesNeedham, Massachusetts
Community in Norfolk County · population 32,091 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,188,500
- Household income
- $214,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 43.1
Needham is a community of 32,091 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $1,188,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 97% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 88% of Massachusetts towns.
How Needham ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Needham is worth $1,188,500, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $214,308, which is more affordable than 28% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,409 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Needham | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,188,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,409 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $214,308 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Needham
| People | Needham | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 81.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.8% | — |
| Work from home | 32.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Needham
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.7 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Needham since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 21, 1956 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Norfolk County since 1996
Norfolk County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Norfolk County
Norfolk County had 346,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,497 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Needham itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Needham
8 public schools with 5,541 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needham High | 9-12 | 1,622 | 12.6 |
| Pollard Middle | 7-8 | 880 | 11.0 |
| Newman Elementary | PK-5 | 698 | 12.5 |
| Sunita L. Williams Elementary | K-5 | 531 | 13.3 |
| Broadmeadow | K-5 | 522 | 14.9 |
| High Rock School | 6-6 | 447 | 12.4 |
| William Mitchell | K-5 | 439 | 12.5 |
| John Eliot | K-5 | 402 | 12.2 |
Towns near Needham
- Wellesley, MA2.7 mi · 29,550 people · home $1,582,700
- Newton, MA3.9 mi · 88,923 people · home $1,264,900
- Dedham, MA4.0 mi · 25,364 people · home $661,800
- Dover, MA4.1 mi · 5,923 people · home $1,340,300
- Westwood, MA4.5 mi · 16,266 people · home $1,041,500
- Natick, MA5.4 mi · 37,006 people · home $821,000
- Brookline, MA5.9 mi · 63,191 people · home $1,246,800
- Weston, MA6.3 mi · 11,851 people · home $1,694,400
Needham questions
Is Needham, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Needham scores better for retirees than 43% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 12%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Needham?
The median owner-occupied home in Needham is valued at $1,188,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $214,308, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $2,409 a month.
What is the weather like in Needham?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 45.7 inches of snow.
Does Needham get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Needham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 21, 1956. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)