What are the schools like in Wellesley, MA?

Wellesley is served primarily by Wellesley. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.5:1.

What is the median household income in Wellesley?

The median household income in Wellesley, MA is $250,001 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

What is the weather like in Wellesley, MA?

Wellesley has an average high temperature of 35.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.7 inches.

Wellesley, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wellesley, MA affordable or expensive?

Wellesley's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wellesley is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,424,400 and the median rent is $2,637 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wellesley, MA?

Wellesley has a violent crime rate of 46.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 484.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wellesley, MA a Good Place to Live?

Wellesley is a small city of 29,862 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $250,001 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Wellesley stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Wellesley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wellesley city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Wellesley's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wellesley costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Wellesley, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,424,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,637	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$250,001	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Wellesley's violent crime rate is 46.9 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

46.9 /100k

Property Crime

484.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wellesley is served primarily by Wellesley. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wellesley, MA	National Avg
School District	Wellesley	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	86.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wellesley sees average highs of 35.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July, with 47.3 inches of annual precipitation and 45.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wellesley, MA
Average High — January	35.2°F
Average High — July	81.8°F
Annual Precipitation	47.3"
Annual Snowfall	45.7"

Demographics

Metric	Wellesley, MA	National Avg
Population	29,862	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.9%	18.9%
Asian	13.3%	6.3%
Under 18	25.2%	22.2%
65 and over	15.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Needham, MA 3 mi Cochituate, MA 4 mi Dover, MA 4 mi Newton, MA 4 mi Waltham, MA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Wellesley

Wellesley, MA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

02481 02482 02457

Wellesley vs Other Cities

Wellesley, MA vs Needham, MA Wellesley, MA vs Cochituate, MA Wellesley, MA vs Dover, MA Wellesley, MA vs Newton, MA Wellesley, MA vs Waltham, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wellesley, MA affordable or expensive?

Wellesley's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wellesley roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,424,400 and median rent is $2,637/month.

What is the crime rate in Wellesley, MA?

Wellesley's violent crime rate is 46.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 484.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wellesley?

Public schools in Wellesley are operated by Wellesley. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 86.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wellesley, MA a good place to live?

Wellesley, MA has a population of 29,862, a median household income of $250,001, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wellesley?

Wellesley averages 35.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.3 inches with about 45.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wellesley?

Wellesley, MA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 02481, 02482, 02457.

What is the population of Wellesley?

The population of Wellesley, Massachusetts is 29,862 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wellesley?

Key numbers for living in Wellesley: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $1,424,400, median household income $250,001, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wellesley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.