Cost of living in Needham, MA — Housing, Rent & Index

All states·Massachusetts·Needham·Cost of living

Housing, rent, and a comparison to the US average.

$1,565,418
Median home value
$3,428/mo
Median rent
441
Cost index (US=100)
+4.4%
Home YoY change

The median home value in Needham, MA is $1,565,418 as of 2026-04. That places Needham above the US average for housing cost, with a cost index of approximately 441 versus a national baseline of 100.

Over the past 12 months, the median home value in Needham has climbed 4.4%, and over the past five years it has averaged +6.9% annual growth. The current price sits +0.0% from its 5-year peak in 2026-04.

Renters pay a median of $3,428 per month in Needham. Rents have changed -2.6% over the last year and averaged — per year over five years.

Beyond housing, day-to-day costs in Needham are shaped by state and local taxes, utility rates, transportation, and groceries. This page focuses on the housing component, which is the largest single line in most household budgets and the easiest to compare across cities using consistent national data.

Housing

Median home value$1,565,418
1-year change+4.4%
5-year CAGR+6.9%
10-year CAGR+5.9%
vs 5-year peak+0.0%

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI).

How Needham compares

Cost index441 (above US)
Median home vs US (~$355k)+341.0%
Population32,091
Momentum score70 (Rising)

Cost index is currently a housing-only proxy; full BLS basket coming with ACS pull.

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.