Needham Town Hall, a brick municipal building on Highland Avenue in Needham, Massachusetts.

Living in Needham, Massachusetts

Needham is a town in Norfolk County on the Charles River, about 12 miles southwest of downtown Boston. It was first settled in 1680 and incorporated in 1711, taking its name from Needham Market in Suffolk, England. The Charles River forms the town's southern and northeastern boundary, and four MBTA Commuter Rail stops on the Needham Line connect the town to Boston.

Needham Center Needham Heights

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0

Needham at a glance

$10.83Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$16,690Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
20-30 minDrive to Boston
NorfolkCounty

Needham's villages and zip codes

Needham uses two ZIP codes: 02492 for Needham Center and the southern part of town, and 02494 for Needham Heights.

Needham villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Needham Center	02492	The town's main commercial and civic center along Great Plain Avenue and Highland Avenue, home to Town Hall and the Needham Center commuter rail stop.
Needham Heights	02494	The northern section of town, with its own ZIP code, commuter rail stop, and the Needham Free Public Library on Highland Avenue.

Things to do in Needham, MA

Start with Cutler Park Reservation and Needham Town Hall Historic District, then 3 more below.

Cutler Park Reservation
A 772-acre state-owned reservation along the middle Charles River with the largest remaining freshwater marsh on the river. A 1.5-mile loop trail circles Kendrick Pond, with boardwalks through the marsh and more than 100 recorded bird species.
FreeYear-round
Kendrick Street, Needham, MA
Needham Town Hall Historic District
A historic district centered on the town's brick Town Hall on Highland Avenue, part of Needham's civic center.
FreeYear-round
1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA
Rosemary Lake trails
About a mile of linear trails through 37 acres of woodland and forested wetland in the middle of town, with views of Rosemary Lake and adjacent wetlands.
FreeYear-round
Rosemary Street area, Needham, MA
Ridge Hill Reservation
More than 360 acres of town conservation land managed by the Needham Conservation Commission, part of a townwide network of trails connecting 18 public open spaces.
FreeYear-round
Ridge Hill, Needham, MA
Olin College of Engineering
A small private undergraduate engineering college on Great Plain Avenue, founded with a focus on hands-on, project-based engineering education.
Year-round
1000 Olin Way, Needham, MA

A little history

Needham was first settled in 1680 following a land purchase from Chief Nehoiden and was incorporated as a town in 1711, taking its name from Needham Market in Suffolk, England.

In 1857, fill excavated from Needham's Route 128 area was used to help fill in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Needham

Needham's outdoor recreation centers on the Charles River at Cutler Park and on a growing network of conservation trails linking woodlands and wetlands across town.

Cutler Park Reservation772 acres along the Charles River with trails, a boardwalk through the largest freshwater marsh on the river, and access for canoeing and kayaking.
Rosemary LakeAbout a mile of linear woodland trails around Rosemary Lake in the center of town.
Ridge Hill ReservationOver 360 acres of town conservation land with hiking trails.

Where to eat in Needham: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Needham to try, including chinese restaurant and asian-inspired restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Ray's New Garden
Chinese restaurant
A Needham restaurant that has operated in town for more than 40 years, having moved to a newer location after four decades at its original spot.
Needham, MA
Cook
Asian-inspired restaurant
A restaurant next to the Needham Center commuter rail station.
Needham Center, Needham, MA
Gari Japanese Fusion Bistro
Japanese restaurant
A Japanese restaurant in the heart of Needham Center.
Needham Center, Needham, MA

Walkability and getting around Needham

Needham Center and Needham Heights, both built around their commuter rail stops, have sidewalks connecting shops, restaurants and Town Hall, but most of the town's residential streets are built around driving.

Needham Center

1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492

Needham Heights

Drive times

Boston, about 12 miles20-30 min
Logan International Airport, about 16 miles25-35 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The MBTA Needham Line has four stops in town: Needham Heights, Needham Center, Needham Junction and Hersey, running to Boston's South Station. Interstate 95/Route 128 has three exits in Needham, and Massachusetts Route 135 runs through town.

Needham property taxes

Needham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $21.09. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,083 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $16,690, on an average assessed value of $1,541,061.

Needham's FY2026 tax rates

$10.83per $1,000, residential

Residential$10.83 per $1,000
Commercial, industrial, personal property$21.09 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$1,541,061
Average single-family tax bill$16,690
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal year	Residential rate
FY2022	$13.37
FY2023	$13.04
FY2024	$12.52
FY2025	$10.60
FY2026	$10.83

Look up a Needham property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Town ClerkVital records and town records
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Needham

What we check on a Needham purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, charles river flood zone.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Norfolk County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Charles River forms Needham's southern and northeastern boundary, and Cutler Park Reservation sits in the river's floodplain, putting low-lying parcels near the river in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Needham

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Needham Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 781-455-7580 to schedule.

Needham Fire Department page

Smoke & CO certificate

Massachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing

Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Contact the Needham Fire Department to schedule the inspection.

Needham Fire Department

Charles River flood zone

Check FEMA flood maps near the Charles River

Parts of Needham near the Charles River, including areas around Cutler Park, fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the river.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

Thinking about buying in Needham?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Needham address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Needham: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Needham: Eversource, with electricity supply available through the town's Needham Power Choice municipal aggregation program (Eversource remains the utility for delivery, outages and billing) for power.

ElectricEversource, with electricity supply available through the town's Needham Power Choice municipal aggregation program (Eversource remains the utility for delivery, outages and billing)
Natural gasEversource
WaterNeedham Department of Public Works, Water Division
Sewer or septicPublic sewer in developed parts of town; check with the Department of Public Works for a specific address.
Trash and recyclingNeedham residents use the town's Recycling & Transfer Station (the RTS) at 1421 Central Avenue, a two-tier pay-per-throw drop-off system using purchased yellow trash bags; residential RTS stickers are issued at no charge. Bulky items are charged by weight.
Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV

Needham Recycling & Transfer Station (RTS)

1421 Central Avenue, Needham, MA

Residential sticker free; bulky waste $220/ton

Transfer station details

Town Hall offices and contacts

Needham Town Hall is at 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492. Hours: Mon 8am-5pm, Tue 8am-6pm, Wed-Thu 8am-5pm, Fri 8am-12:30pm. Main line: 781-455-7500.

Needham, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Needham, MA?

Needham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $21.09. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Needham?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,332 a year at $10.83 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Needham have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $10.83 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $21.09.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Needham?

The average single-family tax bill in Needham was $16,690 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,541,061.

Is trash pickup curbside or pay-as-you-throw in Needham?

Needham does not offer curbside trash pickup for most residents; instead, residents bring trash and recycling to the town's Recycling & Transfer Station (RTS) on Central Avenue, using purchased yellow bags under a two-tier pay-per-throw system.

Who supplies electricity in Needham?

Eversource delivers electricity and handles outages and billing. Needham also runs Needham Power Choice, a municipal aggregation program that lets residents choose among a few electricity supply options.

What ZIP codes does Needham use?

Needham Center and the southern part of town use 02492, and Needham Heights uses 02494.

Is there a train to Boston from Needham?

Yes. The MBTA Needham Line has four stops in town — Needham Heights, Needham Center, Needham Junction and Hersey — running to Boston's South Station.

What does the smoke-certificate process involve for a Needham home sale?

Massachusetts requires a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before closing. In Needham, that inspection is scheduled through the Needham Fire Department.

Towns near Needham

Neighbors of Needham, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Needham, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Cutler Park - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Town of Needham official website: needhamma.gov
Assessing - Needham, MA: needhamma.gov
Fire Department - Needham, MA: needhamma.gov
Board of Health - Needham, MA: needhamma.gov
Recycling & Solid Waste Division - Needham, MA: needhamma.gov
Needham Free Public Library: needhamlibrary.org
Needham Power Choice - Needham, MA: needhamma.gov
Needham Trails - Needham, MA: needhamma.gov
NeedhamMA Town Hall photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked September 25, 2026.