Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Needham spent more per resident in 2022 than 90% of similar towns
Needham’s town government spent $250.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,812 per resident. Water and other utilities ($5.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Needham is run
Read from the town’s budget, meetings and official records.
$6,747 per resident in 2022: more than 90% of them
Needham’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($6,747 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,548, and the middle half spent $4,076–$4,993. Needham spent more than 90% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($10.3 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Needham itself left out).
About $7,812 per resident a year, or $21.40 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 58% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Needham runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Needham reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $6,747 · 2023: $6,936 · 2024: $7,812.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,076 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
Typical bills top $10,000 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Needham’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Needham’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Needham →
Recent meetings
From Needham’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.
No upcoming meetings are posted yet.
Recent meetings
- Jul7GeneralTuesday · 7:00 pm · Town Hall, Great Plain Room, 1471 Highland AvenueNeedham Council for Arts and CultureMeeting page ↗
- Jun30GeneralTuesday · 6:00 pm · Needham Town Hall, Great Plain Room, 1471 Highland AvenueRail Trail Advisory Committee - 6/30/2026Meeting page ↗
- Jun23Select BoardTuesday · 6:00 pm · Needham Town Hall, Select Board Chambers, 1471 Highland AvenueAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Jun17Board of AssessorsWednesday · 5:00 pm · 1471 Highland Avenue -Great Plain RoomMeeting page ↗
- Jun15Historical CommissionMonday · 7:00 pm · Needham Town Hall, Highland Room, 1471 Highland AvenueAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Jun12Finance CommitteeFriday · 12:00 pm · Great Plain Room, Needham Town HallMeeting page ↗
- Jun10Finance CommitteeWednesday · 7:00 pm · Great Plain Room, Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland AvenueJune 10, 2026 MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
- Jun9Select BoardTuesday · 6:00 pm · Town Hall, Select Board Chambers 1471 Highland AvenueAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.
Agenda portal ↗Who’s in charge in Needham
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 29 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (32,114).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Needham School District
Needham’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Needham, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $25,207 per pupil, $15,491 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Needham voted in 2024
Official results for Needham’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat75.0%14,586 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican21.8%4,233 votesOthers: 3.3% (637 votes).
Most votes in Needham: Kamala D Harris
Norfolk County: Harris 62.8%, Trump 34.3% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Needham’s 22,168 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Needham: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Norfolk County: Warren 59.3%, Deaton 40.5% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Jake Auchincloss
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Needham, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needham | 75.0% | 21.8% | 3.3% | 19,456 |
| Norfolk County | 62.8% | 34.3% | 2.9% | 386,447 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Needham.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: needhamma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Needham compares with the towns next door
Needham spent $6,747 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $4,640 to $8,544. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Needham’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Needham’s government
How much does Needham spend per resident?
About $7,812 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $6,747 was more than 90% of 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Who runs Needham’s government?
See needhamma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Needham yet.
How did Needham vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 75.0%, Donald J Trump 21.8% (19,456 votes, official results). Norfolk County: Harris 62.8%, Trump 34.3%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Needham?
1,117 full-time and 1,390 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $11.8M (about $141.8M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Needham in the state legislature?
State Senate District Norfolk-Worcester-Middlesex (Becca Rausch) and State House District 13th Norfolk (Josh Tarsky). The House district also covers two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Needham’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →