Needham placed 21st out of 1,318 small cities nationwide in WalletHub's 2026 Best Small Cities to Live in America ranking, released Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The personal-finance site evaluated cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 on 45 measures across five equally weighted categories: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life and safety. Data were collected as of Sept. 1 from federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and FBI, along with private providers, Patch reported.

Massachusetts dominated the upper ranks. Lexington took the No. 1 spot nationally, with WalletHub citing its fourth-lowest property crime rate and a median household income above $238,000. Milton placed 7th, Arlington 8th, Melrose 27th and Belmont 28th.

The full WalletHub top 10: Lexington; Brookfield, Wisconsin; Carmel, Indiana; Apex, North Carolina; Saratoga Springs, New York; Westfield, Indiana; Milton; Arlington; Franklin, Tennessee; and Fishers, Indiana. Three of those 10 are in Massachusetts.

WalletHub's affordability category factored in median household income, cost of living, homeownership rate and housing costs as a share of income. Its quality-of-life category measured average commute time, restaurants per capita, parks per capita and access to fitness centers, museums and performing-arts venues. The safety category double-weighted violent and property crime rates and also tracked motor vehicle crash deaths and pedestrian fatalities per capita.

The ranking arrives weeks after Needham's own residents offered a mixed picture of town life. In a National Community Survey presented to the Select Board on Aug. 11, 562 respondents gave high marks to the Needham Free Public Library and to police and fire services. But fewer than 20% rated the cost of living as excellent or good, and confidence in local government fell. Needham has participated in the biennial survey since 2008.

Separately, the education ranking service Niche placed Needham's school district second in Greater Boston in a ranking published Sept. 29, behind Dover-Sherborn. WalletHub did not publish Needham's individual scores in each of its five categories.

Upcoming community events:

  • The Needham School Committee meets Oct. 6 to review health data and a capital plan.
  • The Eustis Estate near Dedham hosted a free arts market Oct. 4.