How old are the homes in Needham (community), MA?

63.8% (±5.5 points) of the homes in Needham (community), MA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

18.0% were built before 1940.

15.1% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
63.8% (±5.5 points)
Built before 1940
18.0%
Built 2010 or later
15.1%

When the homes in Needham (community) were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtNeedham (community)Norfolk CountyMassachusettsUnited States
2020 or later1.7% (±0.9 points)1.1%1.0%2.0%
2010 to 201913.4% (±1.9 points)7.8%6.2%9.4%
2000 to 20098.2% (±1.6 points)6.5%7.1%13.6%
1990 to 19995.0% (±1.3 points)7.0%7.4%12.4%
1980 to 19897.8% (±1.8 points)10.3%10.8%12.9%
1970 to 19798.6% (±2.8 points)11.0%11.1%14.2%
1960 to 196910.1% (±1.9 points)11.0%9.9%9.9%
1950 to 195919.8% (±2.6 points)13.2%10.8%9.5%
1940 to 19497.3% (±2.1 points)6.0%5.1%4.4%
1939 or earlier18.0% (±2.8 points)26.1%30.5%11.7%

In Needham (community), the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Norfolk County (67.3%).

It is not measurably different from Massachusetts (67.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Norfolk County, Needham (community) ranks 11 of 14 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 120 of 167.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (55.2%) and the share built before 1980 (63.8%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Needham (community)

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Needham (community)
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
Needham (community)—63.8% (±5.5 points)—
Wellesley (community)2.7 mi71.6% (±4.7 points)Higher
Wellesley2.7 mi71.6% (±4.7 points)Higher
Dover (community)2.7 mi64.0% (±15.4 points)Not measurably different
Newton3.9 mi79.9% (±2.9 points)Higher
Dedham (community)4.0 mi75.7% (±5.4 points)Higher
Dedham4.0 mi75.7% (±5.4 points)Higher
Dover4.1 mi61.1% (±9.9 points)Not measurably different
Westwood4.5 mi64.3% (±7.6 points)Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Wellesley (community), MA (71.6%), Wellesley, MA (71.6%), Newton, MA (79.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Norfolk County, place by place

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
5Dedham (community)75.7% (±5.4 points)
6Medfield (community)73.9% (±11.6 points)
7Wellesley (community)71.6% (±4.7 points)
8Norwood (community)71.4% (±4.8 points)
9Millis-Clicquot69.0% (±12.4 points)
10Dover (community)64.0% (±15.4 points)
11Needham (community)63.8% (±5.5 points)
12Foxborough (community)63.6% (±12.0 points)
13Bellingham (community)59.2% (±10.8 points)
14Walpole (community)55.0% (±9.4 points)

Showing 10 of 14 places in Norfolk County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Needham (community) is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

It lies inside Needham, whose figures include it.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Needham (community)

How old are most homes in Needham (community)?

63.8% of homes in Needham (community), MA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Needham (community) need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 55.2% and 63.8% of homes in Needham (community) were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Needham (community)?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Needham CDP, Massachusetts (place:44140, in state:25).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.

Figures last updated on .

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