Needham

Massachusetts

City page

Comparison Matrix

City
Needham View Map
Route
Add at least two cities
General Info
Population28,886
Center Elevation174 ft(53 m)
Housing & Wealth
Median Home
$1,473,766
Median Rent
$3,193
Median Income$211,754
Rent Burden18%
Climate & Risks
Days with 5+ Hours of Sun282 days/yr
Avg. High61°F
Avg. Low43°F
Comfort Score52/100Mixed
Temp Swing45°F
Annual Precipitation49"(124 cm)
Annual Snowfall30"(76 cm)
Air Quality
Typical: 492024 modeled avg · 18 days > 100
Infrastructure & Lifestyle
Transit Score
29
Safety Score0 (Crime Index)
School Rating9.4/10
Internet Access
Fiber: 97%Cable: 100%
Demographics
Median Age42.3 years
College Educated76%
Remote Workers23%
Nature Access
Local Nature & Reserves
Finding...
Scouting & Local Help
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner.
Featured Local Partner
AD
Your logo
Partner spot available
For organizations that can help someone land in Needham
Book a scouting trip
Frequently Checked Pairings

City pairings people keep checking.

See the city pairings people come back to most, then open the full side-by-side comparison when one matches your shortlist.

View All Comparisons
Compare
326 logged

Chicago, IL & New York, NY

Demand-backed pageOpen
Compare
269 logged

Boston, MA & Chicago, IL

Demand-backed pageOpen
Compare
238 logged

Los Angeles, CA & New York, NY

Demand-backed pageOpen
Compare
231 logged

Barcelona, Spain & Madrid, Spain

Demand-backed pageOpen
Compare
207 logged

Colorado Springs, CO & Fort Collins, CO

Demand-backed pageOpen
Compare
184 logged

Chicago, IL & Los Angeles, CA

Demand-backed pageOpen
Latest Editorial

New from WhyThere.

Essays and data-led lenses on climate, cost, geography, and the shape of daily life.

View All Editorial
Phoenix Has an Escape Route. It Is Not Flagstaff.
Climate Routes

Phoenix Has an Escape Route. It Is Not Flagstaff.

Prescott offers Phoenicians a meaningful reduction in heat without demanding an alpine life—but the trade brings wildfire, smoke, water, and housing constraints into focus.

Read Comparison
Where Can Southerners Escape the Heat Without Leaving the South?
Climate Routes

Where Can Southerners Escape the Heat Without Leaving the South?

Chattanooga, Knoxville, Greenville, and Roanoke offer elevation and latitude without a cultural cross-country move. None offers immunity from heat or flooding.

Read Comparison
The Hidden Risks Inside America’s Supposed Climate Havens
Climate Reality

The Hidden Risks Inside America’s Supposed Climate Havens

Asheville, Duluth, Buffalo, and Portland demonstrate why a low score for one hazard is not the same thing as climate safety.

Read Comparison
The Great Lakes Have the Water. Can Their Cities Handle the People?
Climate Capacity

The Great Lakes Have the Water. Can Their Cities Handle the People?

Duluth, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Detroit possess a major climate advantage, but freshwater alone cannot create housing, infrastructure, or equitable resilience.

Read Comparison
Collections

Browse the strongest WhyThere lenses.

Collections group cities around a decision lens, not just a category.

View All Collections
No Real Winter
Climate LensWarm Leaning

No Real Winter

Cities where cold rarely takes over daily life.

Open collection
The Altitude Hack
Climate LensHigh Elevation

The Altitude Hack

Sunny highland cities that stay much milder than you expect.

Open collection
Surprisingly Soggy
Climate LensExpectation Breaker

Surprisingly Soggy

Places that quietly out-rain their sunny reputations.

Open collection