Needham vs Randolph Town
Needham, Massachusetts versus Randolph Town, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Needham edges out Randolph Town on overall objective livability (48 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Needham | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $206k | $95k |
| Cost of Living | $84k | $84k |
| Home Value | $1.1M | $429k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $4k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.93% | 1.25% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.91% | 16.72% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 8.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 28°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3 in | 53.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.7 in | 69.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 181 days | 181 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 79 days | 89 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 34.3 | 42.5 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 245/100k | 958/100k |
| Property Crime | 521/100k | 1213/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 31,957 | 34,691 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 40.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.29 | 0.71 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.90 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | D+37 | D+37 |
| White (%) | 82.6% | 28.5% |
| Black (%) | 2.4% | 39.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.2% | 11.7% |
| Asian (%) | 9.5% | 13.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.4% | 6.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 37 min |
| Walkability | 11.5/20 | 12.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 13 mi | 14 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 94.7% | 91.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 113.90 | 61.40 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Needham or Randolph Town more affordable?
- Randolph Town has the lower cost of living: its index is $84k, compared with Needham's $84k and Randolph Town's $84k. Median rent is $2k in Needham versus $2k in Randolph Town.
- Is Needham or Randolph Town safer?
- Needham has the lower violent crime rate. Needham reports 245/100k and Randolph Town reports 958/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Needham or Randolph Town?
- The median home value is $1.1M in Needham and $429k in Randolph Town, so homes are more affordable in Randolph Town.