Census-designated place · Massachusetts
Needham, Massachusetts
Needham, census-designated place, in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Needham had 32,459 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±33). GEOID 2544140.
Residents, 2020-2024
32,459
±33 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 32,091
Median household income
$214,308
±$13,048 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$1,188,500
±$43,035 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,409
±$183 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Needham and what county is it in?
Needham is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. It covers 12.3 square miles of land, 2,609 residents per square mile in 2020.
Needham is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Needham, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Needham's population at 32,459 (±33). The 2020 Census counted 32,091 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Needham is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Needham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 32,459 ±33 | 730,082 | +1,489 |
| Households | 11,586 ±312 | 283,368 | +785 |
| Average household size | 2.73 ±0.07 | 2.51 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 11,929 ±293 | 295,227 | +620 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Needham?
The median resident of Needham is 43.1 years old; 27.5% are under 18 and 17.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.8%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 9.9%. 16.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Needham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 ±1.6 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.5% ±1.6 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.7% ±1.6 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 48.1% ±1.5 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6% ±1.2 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.8% ±2.3 pts | 68.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±0.7 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 9.9% ±2.0 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.8% ±2.4 pts | 19.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.6% ±2.7 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.0% ±0.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| With a disability | 7.1% ±1.1 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.2% ±0.7 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.7% ±0.9 pts | 94.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 81.9% ±2.2 pts | 58.8% | +5.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 49.3% ±3.0 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.0% ±1.8 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Needham earn?
Half of Needham's 11,586 households earn less than $214,308 a year (±$13,048), against $130,739 in Norfolk County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $203,738 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Needham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $214,308 ±$13,048 | $130,739 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $284,640 ±$17,625 | $183,022 | – |
| Per capita income | $102,328 ±$5,735 | $71,758 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.7% ±1.0 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.9% ±1.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.9% ±1.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.1% ±1.7 pts | 96.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.7% ±2.0 pts | 94.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Needham?
Owners occupy 83.1% of Needham's occupied homes and renters 16.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,188,500 by its owner (±$43,035). The median renter pays $2,409 a month including utilities, and 46.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Needham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,188,500 ±$43,035 | $683,900 | +$135,888 |
| Median gross rent | $2,409 ±$183 | $2,149 | +$584 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.9% ±9.8 pts | 41.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,171 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.1% ±2.1 pts | 68.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.9% ±2.1 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Housing units | 11,929 ±293 | 295,227 | +620 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.6% ±5.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.3% ±2.4 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.4% ±1.9 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.0% ±2.8 pts | 26.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.4% ±2.3 pts | 9.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Needham work and get to work?
52.7% of Needham's workers drive alone and 32.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Needham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.8% ±2.4 pts | 69.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% ±1.4 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 52.7% ±3.0 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.4% ±1.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.6% ±1.6 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.2% ±0.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 32.4% ±2.6 pts | 22.8% | +23.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.7 min ±1.5 | 32.5 min | −4.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Needham?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Needham (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $129,557 (Tract 4035.01) to $250,000 or more (Tract 4033).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4031Norfolk County | 7,496 | $228,359 |
| Tract 4034Norfolk County | 7,153 | $206,250 |
| Tract 4572Norfolk County | 6,144 | $201,167 |
| Tract 4033Norfolk County | 4,538 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4035.02Norfolk County | 4,217 | $231,181 |
| Tract 4035.01Norfolk County | 2,911 | $129,557 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Needham) · Census block assignment files
How does Needham compare with other places in Massachusetts?
Needham ranks 17th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 53rd | 460 |
| Residents per square mile | 56th | 461 |
| Median household income | 17th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 22nd | 460 |
| Median home value | 21st | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 30th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 281st | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10th | 459 |
| Median age | 281st | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 184th | 460 |
| Work from home | 33rd | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 294th | 459 |
Needham's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Needham with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Needham?
5 of the 57 figures for Needham on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Needham are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.