CITY REPORT MA

Needham Heights, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 67/100

1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Needham Heights: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Needham Heights lands in the middle of the grade scale in MA; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.

How Needham Heights Compares

Needham Heights67/100
Massachusetts avg70/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
1
Water Systems
0
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
C · 67
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$1.1M
Median Home Value
$500
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

What You Should Know About Needham Heights Water

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.005 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 60% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.28.

Who Supplies Your Water in Needham Heights

Public water system records for Needham Heights, MA point to a single listed provider, drawn from 1 system in the federal data; its violation record appears below.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Needham Heights, Massachusetts (population ~10,578), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 31,664 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Needham Heights: C (67/100)

Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:

Factor What It Measures
Water Quality EPA violations and compliance history
PFAS MCL Screen UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs
Radon Risk EPA radon zone classification
Annual AQI EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days

Water Sources

Needham Heights water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0050 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
02494 C Needham Water Department 31,664

All ZIP Codes in Needham Heights

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Health Outcomes in Needham Heights

10.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
9%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
14.6%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 10.7% ↑
Diabetes 9% ↓
Mental Health 14.6% ↓

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

Housing & Infrastructure in Needham Heights

1962
Median Build Year
60%
Built Before 1986
52%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 60% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in Needham Heights, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1962 is only context.

1962
Median Year Built
60%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
52%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (52%) 1970–1986 (8%) Post-1986 (40%)

Over half of homes in Needham Heights were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Needham Heights Homeowners

In Needham Heights, estimated remediation comes to 1% or less of the median home value.

Median Home Value
$1.1M
Est. Remediation
$500
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Needham Heights can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 87% above the Massachusetts average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Needham Heights

60%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.005
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in Needham Heights

6
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$39,975
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Needham Heights contains 6 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $39,975. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $500 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.

What You Can Do in Needham Heights

  1. Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
  2. Install a certified water filter. Choose a pitcher or under-sink filter certified to reduce the specific contaminants of concern.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 60% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Needham Heights, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Needham Heights, MA?
Needham Heights has an average Home Safety Score of 67/100 (Grade C) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. The available EPA record reports no violations for ZIP codes with reported counts. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
Does Needham Heights water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Needham Heights is 0.005 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Needham Heights compare to Massachusetts average?
Needham Heights has an average Home Safety Score of 67/100, which is below the Massachusetts state average of 70/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Needham Heights?
Our records map 1 water system to 1 ZIP code in Needham Heights. The related population figure in our data is approximately 10,578 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Needham Heights?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Needham Heights: $500; modeled range $300 to $800. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Needham Heights, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 67/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/needham-heights/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-needham-heights,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Needham Heights, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 67/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/needham-heights/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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