Needham is a town boasting of a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, the community and schools promote intercultural activities and multicultural awareness for the residents and students.

The mural shown in the accompanying picture, along with several others, was created by students at the Newman elementary school, and hangs proudly at the entrance to the school. While this picture captures the vibrance and the central message of these murals, one really has to see them in person to see the strong message contained.

Population Trends

Persons Change
1980 27,901
1990 27,557 -1.2
1995 28,288 +2.7
2000 29,019 +2.6

Persons by Sex (1990 US Census)

   Male              12,940
   Female            14,617

Age Distribution (1990 US Census)

                     Persons          
   Under 5             1,860         6.7
   5-14                3,404        12.4
   15-44              11,481        41.7
   45-64               6,182        22.4
   65 & over           4,630        16.8

Vital Statistics (Dept. of Public Health 1992)

                                      Statewide
   1991 Resident Births      326
     per 1,000 women 15-44    55.6          59.4

   1991 Resident Deaths       250
     per 100,000 residents    907            881

Race & Ethnicity (1990 US Census)

                     Persons           
   White              26,501         96.2
   Black                 169          0.6
   Am. Indian,            15          0.1
     Eskimo or Aleut
   Asian or Pacific      601          2.2
     Islander
   Hispanic Origin       264          1.0
   Other                   7          0.0

Households (1990 US Census)

                                   change
   1980                 9,359
   1990                10,160        +8.6

Household Size (1990 US Census) 

   2.68 persons per household

Households by Type (1990 US Census)

                              Households  change
   Married Couple Family        6,470     63.7
   Male Householder               222      2.2
   Female Householder             873      8.6
   Non-Family Household         2,595     25.5

Income Distribution (1990 US Census)

                           Households        
   Less than $5,000             248          2.4
   $5,000 - $9,999              399          3.9
   $10,000 - $24,999          1,112         10.9
   $25,000 - $34,999            886          8.7
   $35,000 - $49,999          1,434         14.1
   $50,000 - $74,999          2,350         23.1
   $75-000 - $99,999          1,618         15.9
   $100,000 or more           2,219         21.8

Median Household Income $60,357

   state rank                 27
   0f state average         163.3

Per Capita Income $27,935

   state rank                 19
   0f state average          162.2

Sources of Income (1990 US Census)

                                Number of      Average
                                Households     Income
   Wage & salary                    7,967      $68,104
   Nonfarm self-employed            1,796       33,594
   Farm self-employed                  56       19,635
   Social Security                  2,930        9,313
   Public assistance                  187        7,408
   Retirement                       1,840       12,022
   Interest                         7,191       14,442
   Other                              935        7,091

Poverty Status (1990 US Census)
                                          Statewide
   Persons for whom
   status determined          27,245     5,812,415                          
   Below poverty level           896     519,339                            
                                3.3%