Boston, MA vs Wellesley, MA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | BostonBoston, MA | WellesleyWellesley, MA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Great | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | High Risk | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
13,735 people per square mile in Boston, MA compared to 4 in Wellesley, MA, according to 2023 Census figures. Boston's violent crime rate of 573 per 100,000 people is 12.1 times higher than Wellesley's 47, placing Boston in the 89th percentile and Wellesley in the 8th percentile. Property crime shows a similar pattern, with Boston at 1,870 per 100,000 (73rd percentile) versus Wellesley's 220 (3rd percentile), an 8.5-fold difference. The poverty rate in Boston is 16.9%, which is 13.7 percentage points higher than Wellesley's 3.2%, ranking Boston in the 73rd percentile and Wellesley in the 5th percentile.
Average household size is 2.2 in Boston (21st percentile) and 2.8 in Wellesley (80th percentile), a 25% difference. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 6 in Boston (10th percentile) and 18 in Wellesley (56th percentile), meaning Wellesley's rate is 2.9 times higher. Boston's population of 663,972 (99th percentile) is 634,066 larger than Wellesley's 29,906 (58th percentile). The cost of living index stands at 209 for Boston (92nd percentile) and 362 for Wellesley (98th percentile), with Wellesley 73% higher. Median home values are $710,400 in Boston and $1,513,400 in Wellesley, a 2.1-fold difference.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boston, MA | Wellesley, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 20992nd pctl | 36298th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boston, MA 209; Wellesley, MA 362; Wellesley is 73% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $710,40091st pctl | $1,513,40098th pctl | Median home value: Boston, MA $710,400; Wellesley, MA $1,513,400; Wellesley is 2.1 times higher. |
| Median rent | $2,09393rd pctl | $2,84998th pctl | Median rent: Boston, MA $2,093; Wellesley, MA $2,849; Wellesley is 36% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $94,75574th pctl | $250,00199th pctl | Median household income: Boston, MA $94,755; Wellesley, MA $250,001; Wellesley is 2.6 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $138,01894th pctl | $294,02799th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boston, MA $138,018; Wellesley, MA $294,027; Wellesley is 2.1 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $202,88794th pctl | $432,22099th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boston, MA $202,887; Wellesley, MA $432,220; Wellesley is 2.1 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Wellesley needs about
$129,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 209 vs 362). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boston, MA | Wellesley, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 3.6%48th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.4%32nd pctl | +0.4%32nd pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $60,00187th pctl | $113,07997th pctl | Per-capita income: Boston, MA $60,001; Wellesley, MA $113,079; Wellesley is 88% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.9%73rd pctl | 3.2%5th pctl | Poverty rate: Boston, MA 16.9%; Wellesley, MA 3.2%; Boston is 13.7 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 30.2 min87th pctl | 28.3 min80th pctl | Average commute: Boston, MA 30.2 min; Wellesley, MA 28.3 min; Boston is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.8%80th pctl | 30.8%96th pctl | Work from home: Boston, MA 18.8%; Wellesley, MA 30.8%; Wellesley is 12.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | Economic opportunity: Boston, MA B-; Wellesley, MA A; Wellesley is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boston, MA | Wellesley, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 57389th pctl | 478th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boston, MA 573; Wellesley, MA 47; Boston is 12.1 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,87073rd pctl | 2203rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boston, MA 1,870; Wellesley, MA 220; Boston is 8.5 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Boston, MA C-; Wellesley, MA A+; Wellesley is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Boston, MA A+; Wellesley, MA B-; Boston is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boston, MA | Wellesley, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Fair | Tap water: Boston, MA A; Wellesley, MA B-; Boston is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Massachusetts, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Massachusetts →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boston, MA | Wellesley, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 12 mi13th pctl | Nearest large city: Boston, MA 0 mi; Wellesley, MA 12 mi; Wellesley is 11 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Boston, MA F; Wellesley, MA C+; Wellesley is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 190 mi21st pctl | 190 mi21st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi0th pctl | 11 mi11th pctl | Distance to coastline: Boston, MA 0 mi; Wellesley, MA 11 mi; Wellesley is 11 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Exposed | Strategic location: Boston, MA F; Wellesley, MA C-; Wellesley is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boston, MA | Wellesley, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 663,97299th pctl | 29,90659th pctl | Population: Boston, MA 663,972; Wellesley, MA 29,906; Boston is 634,066 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 13,73599th pctl | 47th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boston, MA 13,735; Wellesley, MA 4; Boston is 13,731 higher. |
| Median age | 33.216th pctl | 38.151st pctl | Median age: Boston, MA 33.2; Wellesley, MA 38.1; Wellesley is 4.9 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.1%84th pctl | 87.1%99th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boston, MA 54.1%; Wellesley, MA 87.1%; Wellesley is 33.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.221st pctl | 2.880th pctl | Average household size: Boston, MA 2.2; Wellesley, MA 2.8; Wellesley is 25% larger. |
More about Boston's residents · Wellesley's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Boston and Wellesley
- Median rent: $2,093 in Boston, $2,849 in Wellesley
- Median home value: $710,400 in Boston, $1,513,400 in Wellesley
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 209 in Boston, 362 in Wellesley
- Median household income: $94,755 in Boston, $250,001 in Wellesley
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $202,887 in Boston, $432,220 in Wellesley
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Boston, 3.6% in Wellesley
- Average commute: 30.2 min in Boston, 28.3 min in Wellesley
- Violent crime per 100k: 573 in Boston, 47 in Wellesley
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More places like Boston and Wellesley
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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