salaryRent is higher than in 89% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 99% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.3 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Most homes (84.4%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 89% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $107,440 a year. That is $52 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 88 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Wellesley?
Share of households by yearly income. 74.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Wellesley
| Size | Wellesley | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,106 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,578 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,373 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Wellesley overall?
Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Wellesley, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Wellesley
Life in Wellesley
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wellesley?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $8,296 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,582,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $158,270 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Wellesley, MA?
Renting in Wellesley costs a median of about $2,686 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.
How much do I need to make to live in Wellesley?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $107,440 a year, or $52 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Wellesley cheap or expensive?
Wellesley is rated Cheap: rent takes 12.9% of the typical household income of $250,000+. It ranks 88th cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Wellesley?
The median homeowner in Wellesley pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.63% of the median home value.
Is Wellesley more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Wellesley?
The median home value in Wellesley is $1,582,700, about 6.3 times the typical yearly household income.
30,347 people live in Wellesley. Numbers are typical (middle) values.