Population 32,003 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Needham
Household size in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.81 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Needham holds 2.74 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.69 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Needham skews older than the country: its median age is 43.5, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 42.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Needham: 6.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Needham
Renters in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Needham is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 33.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the center.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Needham: just 4.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Needham is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,316 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,260 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,242 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,423 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,106 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Needham pays $2,423 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,106 a month from 2006–10, an 84% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 36.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Needham
Bachelor's degrees in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.4% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 74.2% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 81.9% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Needham is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (81.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.5 points, as it has nationally. Only 14 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.0% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.0% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.8% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.8% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Needham: 97.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Needham has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Massachusetts cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Needham
| Period | Needham | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Needham runs below the national rate: 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Needham compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needham | 2.74 | 43.5 | 6.5% | 16.9% | 4.3% | 1968 | $2,423 | 81.9% | 97.8% | 4.1% |
| Newton Upper Falls | 2.58 | 44.0 | 4.1% | 30.0% | 5.2% | 1947 | $2,278 | 76.6% | 96.2% | 4.3% |
| Newton Highlands | 2.55 | 43.9 | 3.9% | 29.2% | 5.3% | 1950 | $2,340 | 85.3% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
| Waban | 2.84 | 48.3 | 6.2% | 12.0% | 4.0% | 1947 | $2,364 | 89.3% | 97.7% | 4.8% |
| Wellesley | 2.81 | 40.5 | 5.0% | 15.5% | 4.0% | 1956 | $3,000 | 89.0% | 87.8% | 4.1% |
| Newton Lower Falls | 2.50 | 42.7 | 2.7% | 27.4% | 9.9% | 1952 | $2,646 | 78.9% | 94.9% | 1.5% |
| Newton Center | 2.70 | 46.1 | 3.1% | 16.0% | 5.1% | 1949 | $2,781 | 86.1% | 98.8% | 3.8% |
| West Roxbury | 2.32 | 43.9 | 8.8% | 33.7% | 9.6% | 1952 | $2,255 | 66.4% | 95.7% | 3.9% |
| Dover | 3.08 | 44.7 | 5.9% | 2.1% | 5.4% | 1972 | $3,065 | 84.9% | 97.2% | 7.0% |
| Auburndale | 2.56 | 37.2 | 5.9% | 36.8% | 9.7% | 1953 | $2,265 | 77.6% | 95.3% | 2.8% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Shelbyville, TN · Andover, MN · Oconomowoc, WI · Norwood, MA · O'Fallon, IL · Oak Ridge, TN · Oakdale, CA · Oakleaf Plantation, FL · Oakton, VA · Oceanside, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Needham. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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