If the point of this exercise is to maximize need-based financial aid, I would focus less on whether a school is need blind or need aware and more on whether it guarantees to meet full need.
Need aware schools often do offer substantial need-based aid, and admissions at need blind schools are skilled at guessing at applicants’ probable need; however, financial packages at schools that guarantee to meet full need are usually reasonably close to the estimated figures in their net price calculators. As always, there are exceptions.