Geography
The Town of Needham is located on rocky uplands within a loop of the Charles River. The town has 200 acres of open spaces with woods and fields. Needham has a total area of 12.7 square miles.
Jobs
Needham has a town center with a business district that hosts a wide variety of local businesses, ranging from financial and legal services, to educational, health and wellness services. Many professionals also work in the larger Boston-Metropolitan area. Needham has multiple commuter rail stops, as well as having access to the Mass Pike and 128/95, making it a desirable place to live for families and commuters. A majority of Needham workers drive to work, and that commute time averages 27 minutes.
Industries providing employment in Needham include educational, health and social services (26.9%), professional, scientific, management, administrative (20.1%), finance, insurance, real estate (12.0%).
Housing
A majority of the homes in Needham are single-family dwellings. However, two-family and multi-family homes are also available. With almost 30% of the homes here built before 1939, it is easy to find an historic gem that you can fall in love with. There are many spectacular estate homes, luxury properties, and Victorian homes. Needham has it all, with some new subdivisions rounding out the array of housing opportunities here. The average selling price of a home in Needham is approximately $501,000.
Recreation
The Needham Golf Club offers not only terrific golf outings, but excellent food, charitable giving to community groups, and a plethora of tournaments for the locals. The greens here are expansive and rolling, and the mature trees along the course are stunning.
Hemlock Gorge in Needham is a lovely 23-acre wild area along the banks of the Charles River. The steep gorge, the Charles River and its surrounding stands of Hemlock trees, and Echo Bridge grace the park. There is also a huge granite and brick bridge that spans the river and gorge. From the bridge you can find spectacular views of the river and neighboring lands.
Village Falls Park, located at Red Wing Bay at Charles River Village in Needham, is a very scenic park providing recreation, as well as a Charles River canoe-launching site. This is a very popular park in the summer months.
Cutler Park’s 700 acres comprise the largest remaining fresh water marsh on the middle Charles River. Located in Needham and Dedham, the marsh and small lake attract over 100 species of birds. Cutler Park is a prime spot for enjoying nature. Popular activities in this wetland preserve are hiking, canoeing and fishing. Cutler Park is open year-round, dawn to dusk.
Special Attractions/Events
Longwood Opera was co-founded by Scotty Brumit and John Balme in 1986. They founded Longwood Opera to give locally-based performers a chance to establish themselves as professional artists. Performance of La Traviata received high praise. Longwood Opera provides a great way to enjoy a night at the opera in the suburbs.
Needham is home to the Boston West chapter of Toastmasters, a group dedicated to improving its members’ public speaking skills. Meetings are held twice a month. Members apply these skills to gain improved leadership skills in the workplace and even at home.
At Finagle A Bagel in Needham, musicians conduct a special “Children’s Music Hour” once a week. This is a really fun activity for the kids. You can enjoy your favorite bagel while the kids sing along.
Puddlestompers is a local organization that guides children aged 2-5 through themed exploration of the outdoors. Classes are designed to connect kids with the natural world, and all tools and concepts are age specific. Each outing ends with a healthy snack. Sessions are eight weeks long. This is a very unique and fun opportunity for families in Needham.
The Needham Public Library, which was founded in 1888, provides the community with access to hundreds of magazines, DVDs, books and resources. The Needham Library features a very nice Children’s Library with computers, story hours and child-sized chairs.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Needham was first settled in 1680 and officially incorporated in 1711. Originally part of the Dedham Grant, Needham split from Dedham, Massachusetts and was named after the village of Needham Market in Suffolk, England.
In 1882, Needham and Wellesley high schools began playing an annual football game on Thanksgiving Day. The games continue to this day and are now the second-longest running high school football rivalry in the United States (and longest such contest on Thanksgiving).
The Needham Historic Society is located at 53 Glendoon Road in Needham, and it has been celebrating the history of Needham and its citizens since 1915. Through programs, lectures, exhibits and outreach to schools, The Needham Historic Society shares the legacy of the town and its accomplishments.
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