Livability Score

84
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities D

There are some amenities close to this location.
Coffee (2) F
Dunkin' Donuts
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
The Depot Cafe
Coffee Shop
Pressed
Coffee Shop
Pressed
Coffee Shop
Caffè Nero
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
DR/P Cafe
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Dunkin'
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (4) F
Needham Bowlaway
Bowling Alley
Needham History Center & Museum
Museum
Martini Junction
Attraction
Foundation & Chimney
Attraction
Bardwell Auditorium
Theatre Arts
Henderson Arts Center
Theatre Arts
Boston Marathon
Attraction
Davis Museum and Cultural Center
Museum
Food and Drink (4) F
Dunkin'
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Junction Ice Cream
Sweets
Jean & Lee Kitchen
Fast Food
BrickFire Pizza Co.
Fast Food
Allstar Liquors
Alcohol
Chipotle
Fast Food
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Sweets
Subway
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Truly's
Sweets
Qdoba
Fast Food
Sweetgreen
Fast Food
The Linden Store
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Indulge
Sweets
McDonald's
Fast Food
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast Food
Fitness (1) F
Center at the Heights
Community Centre
JCC Greater Boston
Community Centre
Emerson Community Center
Community Centre
B/SPOKE
Gym
Orangetheory Fitness
Gym
Endicott House
Community Centre
Fit Club Wellesley
Gym
The Dawg Cage
Gym
Morrison Athletic Center (MAC)
Gym
Lister Crew Training Center
Gym
Lower Falls Community Center
Community Centre
Dedham Community House
Community Centre
Groceries (5) B
The Cookie Monstah
Bakery
Sudbury Farms
Grocery Store
Roche Bros.
Grocery Store
Trader Joe's
Grocery Store
Volante Farms
Grocery Store
BazaAr
Grocery Store
Stop & Shop
Grocery Store
Whole Foods Market
Grocery Store
Quebrada Baking Co.
Bakery
Captain Marden's Fish Market
Seafood
Pressed Juicery
Health Food
Roche Bros.
Grocery Store
Whole Foods Market
Grocery Store
Parks (35) A+
Needham Town Hall Historic District
Park
Green Field
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Noyes Park
Park
Memorial Park
Park
Vesta Park
Park
McIntosh Corner Historic District
Park
Unknown Name
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Dwight Field
Park
Thorpe Park
Park
Hatfield Park
Park
Claxton Field
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Coulton Park
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Avery Field
Park
Memorial Park
Park
DeFazio Park
Park
Beaufort Park
Park
DeFazio Tot Lot
Playground
Rebecca Perry Park
Park
Unknown Name
Playground
Unknown Name
Playground
Vesta Park
Park
Shops (8) F
Anthony's Barber Shop
Hairdresser
Harvey's Hardware
Home Improvement
7-Eleven
Convenience Store
Verizon
Electronics
7-Eleven
Convenience Store
You-Do-It Electronics Center
Electronics
Speedway
Convenience Store
Petco
Pets
MPINarada
Electronics
Marshalls
Department Store
PetSmart
Pets
Wellesley Variety
Convenience Store
Green's Hardware
Home Improvement
Alltown
Convenience Store
Ideal Barber Shop
Hairdresser
H&A Jewelers
Fashion
Anthony's Barber Shop
Hairdresser
Nails Studio
Beauty
Grove Street Barbershop
Hairdresser
Talbots
Clothing
JoS. A. Bank
Clothing
Unleashed
Pets
Papa Wheelies Bicycle Shop
Bicycle
Glamour Tan
Beauty
Lux Bond & Green
Fashion
See more Needham amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 10.9% take public transportation in Needham.
Public Transit Stops (38)
Stops & Stations A+
Needham Center
Transit Station
Chestnut St @ Great Plain Ave
Bus Stop
Chapel St @ Great Plain Ave
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ May St
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ May St
Bus Stop
Chestnut St @ Oak St
Bus Stop
Chestnut St opp Oak St
Bus Stop
Highland Ave opp Oakland St
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ Oakland Ave
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ Rosemary St
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ Rosemary St
Bus Stop
Needham Junction @ Commuter Rail Station
Bus Stop
Needham Junction
Transit Station
Highland Ave @ Dana Pl
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ Dana Pl
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ Avery Sq
Bus Stop
Needham Heights
Transit Station
Highland Ave @ Mark Lee Rd
Bus Stop
Highland Ave @ Avery Sq
Bus Stop
Hillside St @ Hunnewell St
Bus Stop
Hillside Ave @ Hunnewell St
Bus Stop
Hillside Ave @ Avery St
Bus Stop
Hillside Ave @ Avery St
Bus Stop
Webster St @ Hillside Ave
Bus Stop
Webster St @ Hillside Ave
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
10.9% B+
See more Needham commute data

cost of living F

The cost of living in Needham is 181/100 - which is 38% higher than Massachusetts.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc. F
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax A
See more Needham cost of living data

crime A+

Needham crime rates are 426 per 100k, which is 69% lower than Massachusetts
Property Crime
382 crimes per 100k A+
Violent Crime
44 crimes per 100k A+
See more Needham crime data

employment A+

The median income in Needham is $139,477 - which is 97% higher than Massachusetts.
Med. Household Income
$139,477 A+
Unemployment Rate
3.4% B-
See more Needham employment data

health A+

There are some hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (8)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc. A+
Chestnut Dental
Dentist
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Needham Fire Department
Fire Station
Needham Police Dept
Police
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham
Hospital
CareWell Urgent Care
Clinic
Needham Fire Department
Fire Station
One Medical
Clinic
Norfolk County Sheriff
Police
Harvard Vanguard Wellesley
Clinic
Newton Fire Department
Fire Station
Wellesley Police Station
Police
Wellesley Fire Department
Fire Station
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
CVS
Pharmacy
Wellesley Fire Department
Fire Station
Newton Fire Department: Wires Division
Fire Station
Newton Fire Department: Station 10
Fire Station
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Dover Fire Department
Fire Station
Dover Police Dept
Police
Dental Arts of Westwood
Dentist
Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Hospital
Campus Police
Police
Air Quality
Median Air Quality B-
See more Needham health & safety data

housing B

Needham home prices are $719,600 - which is 111% higher than Massachusetts
Home Price
$719,600 A+
Home Appreciation Rate
7% B+
Home Affordability
5.2x (home price to income ratio) F
See more Needham housing data

schools A+

The Needham graduation rate is 97% - which is 12% higher than Massachusetts
School Test Scores
74% B+
High School Grad. Rates
97% A+
Elementary Schools (9) A
Monsignor Haddad Middle
St Joseph Elementary School
High Rock School
Newman Elementary School
Hillside Elementary School
William Mitchell
John Elementary School
Broadmeadow
Theophany School
Joseph E Fiske
Tenacre Country Day School
Chickering
Hunnewell
Schofield
Wellesley Middle
Countryside
Charles River School
A E Angier
St John School
Sprague Elementary School
Oak Hill Middle
Charles E Brown Middle
Riverdale
Zervas
Ernest F Upham
High Schools (2) F
Needham High
Riverside School
Wellesley Sr High
Noble And Greenough School
West Roxbury Academy
Urban Science Academy
Newton South High
Ursuline Academy
Catholic Memorial
See more Needham education data

ratings B-

Needham has an overall rating of 68% from 13 reviews.
User Reviews (1)
From AreaVibes C-
User Surveys (12)
From AreaVibes A+
See more Needham user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings

Needham, MA Area Guide

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Photo of Needham, MA
( 13 Reviews)

Living in Needham, MA

Ranks better than 84% of areas Follow

Needham Area Facts

  • Needham has a Livability Score of 84/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Needham crime rates are 69% lower than the Massachusetts average
  • Cost of living in Needham is 38% higher than the Massachusetts average

What do the locals think about Needham?

Based on 14 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Great School, Almost No Diversity 3 rating By Anonymous ( May 14, 2018) Needham is a nice little town, with excellent schools and a robust LGBT support commmunity. The biggest problems that I’ve found, in living here, are that it might be difficult for middle-class families to own property. It might because of the contractors in town that tend to t ...Read More ear down older and smaller homes to build these high-scale ones, but whatever the reason Needham social and racial diversity really takes a hit.

A lot of the African America and Latino population live out in Boston and come to town for school, so it’s not strictly white, but the population overall generally is made up of middle-age and white.

Conversely, the town is safe and it’s beautiful, worth the price to live here if you can afford it. The people are friendly, and anything you can’t find here, Boston isn’t too far away. Going there is also great for entertainment or a night on the town as there isn’t too much in Needham for that. However, the schools are a plus, can’t say enough about how good they are. Read Less
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Needham Awards

❰ ❱

D Amenities

Are there many local amenities in Needham? Yes, there are some amenities close to this location.

Parks

Needham Town Hall Historic District
Green Field
Unknown Name
Noyes Park
Memorial Park
Vesta Park
McIntosh Corner Historic District
Unknown Name

Entertainment

Needham Bowlaway
Needham History Center & Museum
Martini Junction
Foundation & Chimney
Bardwell Auditorium
Henderson Arts Center
Boston Marathon
Davis Museum and Cultural Center

Food & Drink

Dunkin'
Subway
McDonald's
Junction Ice Cream
Jean & Lee Kitchen
BrickFire Pizza Co.
Allstar Liquors
Chipotle

A+ Commute

Is public transit available in Needham? Of all people who commute, 10.9% take public transportation in Needham.
Drive to Work
72%

5% lower than the US average

Take Public Transit
11%

6% higher than the US average

Walk to Work
2%

1% lower than the US average

F Cost of Living

What is the cost of living in Needham? The cost of living in Needham is 181/100 - which is 38% higher than Massachusetts.
Needham
181

81% more expensive than average

Massachusetts
130

30% more expensive than average

United States
100

National cost of living index

A+ Crime

What is the crime rate in Needham? Needham crime rates are 426, which are 69% lower than Massachusetts
Total Crime
426 per 100k people

82% lower than the US average

Chance of being a victim
1 in 235

82% lower than the US average

Year-over-year crime
-8%

Year over year crime is down

A+ Employment

What is the median income in Needham? The median income in Needham is $139,477 which is 97% higher than Massachusetts.
Median household income
$139,477152% higher than the US average
Income per capita
$67,059125% higher than the US average
Unemployment rate
3%

28% lower than the US average

B+ Health & Safety

Is Needham a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

Hospitals

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham

Pharmacies

CVS Pharmacy
Walgreens

Doctors

B Housing

What are Needham home prices? Needham home prices are $719,600 - which is 111% higher than Massachusetts
Median home value
$719,600290% higher than the US average
Median rent price
$1,45353% higher than the US average
Home Ownership
83%

31% higher than the US average

A+ Schools

Does Needham have good schools? The Needham graduation rate is 97% - which is 12% higher than Massachusetts
High school grad. rates
97%

17% higher than the US average

School test scores
74%

55% higher than the US average

Student teacher ratio
13:1

19% lower than the US average

B- User Ratings

Is Needham a good place to live? Needham has an overall rating of 68% from 13 reviews.
Overall user rating
68%

13 total ratings

User reviews rating
60%

1 total reviews

User surveys rating
88%

12 total surveys

Compare Needham, MA Livability

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