The Town of Needham
Self Help Community Profile
Location:
The town of Needham is located in Eastern Ma. boarded by Wellesley on the west and northwest; Newton on the north and northeast; W. Roxbury on the east; Dedham on the southeast and south; and Westwood and Dover on the south. Needham is 10 miles southwest of Boston, 29 miles east of Worcester and about 208 miles from New York City.
You can visit the Official Website of Needham, Ma. at http://www.needhamma.gov/
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2000 U.S. Census Bureau Population Characteristics:
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General Population Statistics
| Total Households |
10,612
|
Total Population |
28,911 |
|
| Total Registered Voters |
18,416
|
Total Unenrolled Voters |
9,052
|
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| Total Males |
13,702
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Total Females |
15,209
|
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| Never Married |
4,889
|
Married |
14,585
|
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| Separated |
205 |
Non-Married/unrelated |
2,830
|
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| Widowed |
1,792
|
Divorced |
979
|
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| Single female Head of households |
728
|
Grandparents as caregivers |
190
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Race/Ancestry Statistics
|
Race
|
Total
|
Percent
|
Total in Poverty
|
Percent
|
| White |
27.412
|
94.8%
|
659
|
2.5%
|
| Black |
201
|
0.7%
|
18
|
11.6%
|
| Asian |
1,024
|
3.5%
|
28
|
2.7%
|
| Hispanic |
341
|
1.2%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
| American Indian |
8
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0.0%
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| Other |
73
|
0.3%
|
0
|
0.0%
|
| Two or more Races |
193
|
0.7%
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Disability Status
| Population 5 to 20 years |
6,139
|
With a Disabilty |
298
|
% Disabiled | 4.9% | ||||
| Population 21 to 64 years |
15,361
|
With a Disabilty |
1,377
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% Disabiled | 9.0% | ||||
| 21 to 64 employed |
11,453
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With a Disabilty | % Employed | 66.2% | |||||
| Population 65 years and older |
4,754
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With a Disabilty |
1,369
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% Disabiled | 28.8% |
Poverty Statistics
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Map of Needham
Poverty Population |
| Category | Families | Single Female Head of Household | Individuals | 65 Years and older |
| Total |
121
|
40
|
705
|
201
|
| Below 100% Poverty |
1.6%
|
7.4%
|
2.5%
|
8.0%
|
| Total below 200% Poverty |
301
|
1,749
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| % below 200% Poverty |
3.9%
|
6.2%
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| 100% Poverty total with children under 18 |
74
|
35
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| % below with children under 18 |
1.9%
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10.6%
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| 100% Poverty total with children under 5 |
20
|
0
|
u/a
|
u/a
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| % below with children under 5 |
1.3%
|
0.0%
|
u/a
|
u/a
|
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Needham Board of Selectmen
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| Member | Office |
| James G. Healy |
Chairman
|
| Daniel P. Matthews |
Vice Chairman
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| John A. Bulian |
Clerk
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| Denise C. Garlick |
Member
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| Gerald A. Wasserman |
Member
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Map of Needham
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u/a (unvavailable)
Persons, by race, for whom Poverty Status is Determined
| Population below 100% of poverty | Persons below 100% | % of Pop-ulation | Persons up to 150% of poverty | Persons up to 200% of poverty | Persons above 200% |
| All Races |
705
|
2.5%
|
1,345
|
1,749
|
26,272
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| White |
659
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2.5%
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| Black |
18
|
11.6%
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| Asian |
28
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2.7%
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| American Indian |
0
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0.0%
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| Hispanic |
0
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0.0%
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| Other Races |
0
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0.0%
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Other Poverty Related Statistics:
| Families with female head of household and no husband present |
728
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| Percent below poverty level |
7.4%
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| With related children under 18 years of age |
35
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| Percent below poverty level |
10.6%
|
| With related children under 5 years of age |
0
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| Percent below poverty level |
0.0%
|
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren |
19
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| Percent of grandparents living in household who are responsible for grandchildren |
10.0%
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| TAFDC Recipients as of 2005 according to DTA |
13
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Languages Spoken other than English
| Language Spoken |
Persons
|
% of Persons
|
| English Only |
23,814
|
89.1%
|
| Language other than English |
2,904
|
10.9%
|
| Speak English less than well |
720
|
2.7%
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| Spanish Speaking |
230
|
0.9%
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| Other Indo-Eurposean Languages |
1,851
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6.9%
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| Asian and Pacific Island Languages |
642
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2.4%
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Preschool Child Statistics
Persons under 5 years of age: 2.153 (7.4%) % Living in poverty: 24 (1.1%)
Children ages 0-6 on TANF: 7
Persons enrolled in Nursery School/Preschoo: 928
| Estimated number of 3 year olds as of 2008 |
298
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| Estimated number of 4 year olds as of 2008 |
348
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| Total estimated 3 and 4 year olds as of 2008 |
646
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| Total estimated Head Start eleigible 3 and 4 year olds as of 2008 |
21
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| Total number of children enrolled in Head Start as of 2008 |
0
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| Needham number of licensed child care slots as of 2005 |
325
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| Early Intervention children as of 2004 |
137
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| Total Births 2007 |
325
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| Teen Births 2007 |
n/a
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Needham Preschool Child Care Centers
| Name | Address | Phone | Type | Capacity | Infant | Toddler | Pre-School |
| Abbott Gould Children’s Center | 126 Gould Street
Needham,02494 |
781-444-6541 | Group Care | 64 | 10 | 15 | 39 |
| Carter Center For Children Inc. | 800 Highland Ave
Needham,02494 |
781-449-4771 | Group Care | 80 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| Carter Memorial Nursery School | 800 Highland Ave
Needham,02492 |
781-449-3246 | Group Care | 48 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| Chestnut Children’s Center | 167 Chestnut Street
Needham,02492 |
781-999-9999 | Group Care | 82 | 7 | 18 | 57 |
| First Baptist Church Nursery School | 858 Great Plain Ave
Needham,02492 |
781-449-8471 | Group Care | 24 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| First Bridge Preschool | 1132 Highland Avenue
Needham,02494 |
781 453-0400 | Group Care | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Grace Christian Nursery School | 543 Greendale Avenue
Needham,02492 |
781-449-0732 | Group Care | 39 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
| Kindercare Child Care Center | 1000 Highland Avenue
Needham,02494 |
781 449-0774 | Group Care | 143 | 28 | 45 | 70 |
| Mulberry Child Care Center – Needham | 206 A Street
Needham,02494 |
781 445-7523 | Group Care | 175 | 38 | 49 | 88 |
| Needham Children’s Center Inc. | 23 Dedham Avenue
Needham,02492 |
781-449-4486 | Group Care | 25 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Needham Children’s Center, Inc. | 858 Great Plain Avenue
Needham,02492 |
781-449-4486 | Group Care | 76 | 7 | 24 | 45 |
| Needham Creative Head Start | 286 Linden Street
Needham,02192 |
781-449-2961 | Group Care | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Needham Playschool Inc. | 42 Broadmeadow Road
Needham,02492 |
781-444-0666 | Group Care | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Noah’s Ark Preschool | 1154 Grat Plain Ave.
Needham,02492 |
781-444-2510 | Group Care | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Riverside Early Intervention Program | 255 Highland Avenue 2nd FL
Needham,02492 |
781 449-1884 | Group Care | 24 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Temple Beth Shalom Children’s Center | 670 Highland Avenue
Needham,02494 |
781-449-3016 | Group Care | 64 | 0 | 9 | 55 |
| The Charles River YMCA Preschool | 863 Great Plain Avenue
Needham,02492 |
781 444-6400 | Group Care | 30 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| The Saltbox School | 1458 Great Plain Avenue
Needham,02492 |
781 444-8558 | Group Care | 40 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Theophany Orthodox Christian School | 754 Greendale Avenue
Needham,02492 |
781-444-3058 | Group Care | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
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Needham School Enrollment
2006-20077 School Year
Total pupils enrolled 2007: 4,995
Low Income Rate: 3.3%*
Limited English Proficient: 50 (1.0%)*
Annual Drop Out Rate for 2003: 0.00%
Number of total children identified by Department of Education for special education: 579 (11.6%)*
*Department of Education 2006-07 School Year
| Race/Ancestry of Students 2007 |
Total
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| Total Students |
4,995 (100%)
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| White |
4,326(86.6%)
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| African American |
140 (2.8%)
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| Hispanic |
145 (2.9%)
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| Asian |
256 (5.1%)
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| American Indian |
5 (0.1%)
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Housing Characteristics
Figures Below from 2000 Census
| Total Housing Units |
10,846
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| Rental Occupied Housing |
2,025
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| Owner Occupied Housing |
8,587
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| Single Family Homes |
8,650
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| Mobile Homes |
19
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| Total Public Housing Units |
425
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| Homeowner Vacancy Rate |
0.3%
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| Rental Vacancy Rate |
2.2%
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| Percent paying more than 35% of income for rent |
40.4%
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| Percent paying more than 35% of income for mortgage |
14.6%
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Lead Poisoning Data:
Units built prior to 1959: 6,850 (63.2% of entire housing stock)
Children 2004 20-24 ug/dl immediate risk of lead poisoning: 1
Children 2002 25 ug/dl+ lead poisoned: 0.0
Income/Employment Data
| Median Income |
$107,570
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| Per Capita Income |
$44,549
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| Total Labor Force* |
14,411
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| Employed* |
13,919
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| Unemployed* |
492
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| Unemployment Rate* |
3.4%
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| Average Weekly Wages as of 2003 |
$1,189
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*As of August, 2008 accourding to Division of Unemployment Assistance
Crime Rates for 2005*
*Massachusetts State Police Crime Reporting Unit
| Categories |
2005
|
2004
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% Change
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| Murder |
0
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0
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n/c
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| Rape |
0
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2
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+200.00%
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| Robbery |
2
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3
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-33.00%
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| Aggravated Assault |
5
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4
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+25.00%
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| Burglary |
76
|
28
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+171.00%
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| Larceny |
192
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216
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-11.87%
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| Motor Vehicle Theft |
7
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6
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+16.00%
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Perinatal Rates
| Category | Number | Percent | State % |
| Total Births 2007 |
325
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| Prematurity (less than 37 weeks) |
21
|
6.5%
|
9.0%
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| Low Birth Weight |
14
|
4.3%
|
7.9%
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| Adequate Prenatal Care |
297
|
91.7%
|
83.1%
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| Teen Births |
n/a
|
n/a
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6.2%
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| Infant Deaths (less than 1 year) |
0
|
n/a
|
4.9%
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| Neonatal Deaths (less than 28 days) |
0
|
n/a
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| WIC child participants as of 2003 |
15
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| WIC infant participants as of 2003 |
10
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Substance Abuse Indicators
(According to BSAS 2003 Department of Public Health)
Admision to DPH funded treatment programs: 75
Injection drug user admission to DPH programs: n/a
Alcohol and other drug related hospital discharges: 41
Alcohol and drug users deaths: 2
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Results of the 2008 SHI Community Needs Assessment for the town of Needham.
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| # Priority | % | Problem Area |
| 1. | 83% | Help people pay water bills. |
| 2. | 67% | Help with gas and electric bills. |
| 3. | 50% | Need help with health insurance coverage. |
| 4. | 48% | Help for people applying for social security. |
| 5. | 45% | Affordable mental health services. |
| 6. | 42% | Affordable legal services. |
| 7. | 40% | Help for people to pay rent. |
| 8. | 34% | Support for caregivers of senior citizens. |
