Needham, MA vs Somerville, MA

Somerville is moderately more affordable than Needham, with a 9.9% lower cost of living index. Needham scores 206 compared to 187 for Somerville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Needham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Needham is $2,412/month compared to $2,468/month in Somerville — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Needham has cheaper rent, Somerville actually has lower median home values ($899,400 vs $1,146,000).

Median household income in Needham is $212,241 compared to $127,056 in Somerville (+67%). While Needham is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Needham spend roughly 13.6% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in Somerville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52°F vs 51.9°F). Needham receives more rainfall at 43.9" per year compared to 43.6" in Somerville.