What is the cost of living in Needham, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Needham has an overall cost of living index of 203, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Needham has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Needham ranks as #104 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Needham ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Needham, check out:
Needham Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Needham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Needham is 104.
The Groceries index in Needham is 113.
The Health index in Needham is 407.
The Housing index in Needham is 118.
The Transportation index in Needham is 115.
The Utilities index in Needham is 115.
| Living Expense | Needham | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 203 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 407 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Needham Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Needham, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Needham is $1,540,159.
The Median Rent in Needham is $2,409.
The Median Income in Needham is $214,308.
The Home Value To Income in Needham is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Needham is 0.13x.
| Statistic | Needham | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,540,159 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,409 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $214,308 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.2x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.13x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Needham, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Needham Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Needham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Needham Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Needham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Needham Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Needham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Needham Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Needham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Needham Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Needham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Needham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Needham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Needham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x Needham.
Waltham, MA has a cost of living index of 163, 0.8x Needham.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.1x Needham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.0x |
| Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 163 | 0.8x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.0x |
| Norwood, MA | 31,542 | 150 | 0.7x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.2x |
| Reading, MA | 25,612 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Dedham, MA | 25,237 | 154 | 0.8x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.0x |
