Rents are 4% below what Needham's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,702 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Needham is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.
Rent in Needham changed +4.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($214,308) is $5,358 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,770).
Dedham, 5 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,913/mo), about $9,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Needham. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Needham, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 81.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Needham, MA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Needham, MA has climbed by $577 per month, settling near $3,702 after starting the period at $3,125. Census figures show median household income at $214,308 today, compared with $182,813 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 31,808 to 32,459 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.0% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
Discussions about Needham
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Needham on your salary?
At $3,702/mo, how Needham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Needham rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Needham. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Needham
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Needham is $3,702/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,270/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,840/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,400/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,420/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($214,308/yr), Needham ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Needham?
Is rent going up or down in Needham?
How does Needham rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $3,702/mo, rent takes ~21% of Needham's median household income ($214,308/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Needham.
No discussions yet.