Needham vs Wellesley
Needham, Massachusetts versus Wellesley, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Needham and Wellesley score about the same overall (48 vs 49 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Needham | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $206k | $250k |
| Cost of Living | $84k | $84k |
| Home Value | $1.1M | $1.4M |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $3k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $4k | $4k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.93% | 0.70% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.91% | 15.06% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 4.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 28°F | 28°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3 in | 47.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.7 in | 45.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 181 days | 181 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 79 days | 78 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 34.3 | 40.4 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 45 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 245/100k | 175/100k |
| Property Crime | 521/100k | 376/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 31,957 | 29,862 |
| Median Age | 43.3 | 37.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.29 | 0.40 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.90 | 0.81 |
| Political Leaning | D+37 | D+37 |
| White (%) | 82.6% | 73.6% |
| Black (%) | 2.4% | 2.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.2% | 5.3% |
| Asian (%) | 9.5% | 13.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.4% | 5.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 29 min | 29 min |
| Walkability | 11.5/20 | 12.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 13 mi | 15 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 94.7% | 95.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 113.90 | 107.49 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
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 Wellesley more affordable?
- Wellesley has the lower cost of living: its index is $84k, compared with Needham's $84k and Wellesley's $84k. Median rent is $2k in Needham versus $3k in Wellesley.
- Is Needham or Wellesley safer?
- Wellesley has the lower violent crime rate. Needham reports 245/100k and Wellesley reports 175/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Needham or Wellesley?
- The median home value is $1.1M in Needham and $1.4M in Wellesley, so homes are more affordable in Needham.