I grew up in Needham but have not lived there since the early 1990s. I've been back a few times however, and not a lot has changed. The answer to your question is fairly predictable from a look at the map of the town. As you move north and east toward Newton into Needham Heights and Birds Hill, it gets a little more commercial and dense (although no residential part of town is particularly built up at all), and as you move out toward Dover, the Charles River Village area gets more rural. It's really all shades of tree-filled suburban, though. Great town for kids until they hit their teens and start to get bored.

Great parks, playgrounds and schoolyards all over, and the High Rock Town forest is one huge park.

This link is helpful, thanks. I'm not really looking for recommendations, just factual/descriptive info about different areas (e.g., if there are more parks in one neighborhood of Needham or one area feels more urban/rural). Thanks!

Realtors aren't allowed to recommend neighborhoods, but we can point you in the direction where you can find the information to help you make an informed decision for yourself. Try this link:
http://www.city-data.com