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Buying a home in Wellesley, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in Wellesley is worth about $1,582,700, 2.8 times the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 4.8 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.63% of their home's value, lower than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $250,001 a year, so the median home costs 6.3 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Wellesley at a glance

Wellesley Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $1,582,700 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $10,001 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.63% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $250,001 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 84% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 66% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $4,001 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.6% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $2,886 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.3% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1955 1964 1980
Vacant homes 2.4% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 30,347 7,044,056 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Wellesley

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Wellesley home of $1,582,700 with 20% down costs about $10,008 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $12,899, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $428,911 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 48% of the median Wellesley household income of $250,001; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $923,000.

The median rent here is $2,886 a month, so owning the median home costs about $7,122 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$316,540
Loan amount$1,266,160
Principal and interest$8,518
Property taxes (0.63% a year)$831
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$659
PMI$0
Total per month$10,008

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$55,394
Loan amount$1,554,033
Principal and interest$10,454
Property taxes (0.63% a year)$831
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$659
FHA mortgage insurance$955
Total per month$12,899

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Questions about home buying in Wellesley

What is the median home value in Wellesley?

About $1,582,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Wellesley?

Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 0.63% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Wellesley?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $10,008 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $428,911 a year.

More about Wellesley

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data