Wellesley Square
525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
Living in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County about 13 miles west of downtown Boston, incorporated in 1881 and named after the estate of local benefactor Horatio Hollis Hunnewell. The town has been on the Boston & Albany rail line since 1833 and today has three MBTA Commuter Rail stops. It is home to Wellesley College and Babson College, and the town operates its own municipal electric utility.
Wellesley at a glance
- $10.17Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $20,551Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 20-30 minDrive to Boston
- NorfolkCounty
Wellesley's villages and zip codes
Wellesley uses three ZIP codes: 02482 for Wellesley Square, 02481 for Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms, and 02457 for Babson Park.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Wellesley Square | 02482 | The town's central business district, near Town Hall and the Wellesley Square commuter rail stop. |
| Wellesley Hills | 02481 | A village center along Washington Street with its own commuter rail stop and the Municipal Light Plant offices. |
| Babson Park | 02457 | The southeastern section of town, home to Babson College. |
Things to do in Wellesley, MA
Start with Wellesley College and Elm Bank Reservation, then 2 more below.
Wellesley College
A private women's liberal arts college founded in 1870, with a 500-acre campus designed by Frederick Law Olmsted overlooking Lake Waban. The campus includes the Davis Museum and a botanic garden open to visitors.
106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA
Elm Bank Reservation
A 175-acre state reservation on the Charles River with an entrance in Wellesley, home to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's 36 acres of themed gardens, including the Bressingham Garden and Weezie's Garden for Children.
900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
Babson College
A private business school in the Babson Park section of town.
231 Forest Street, Wellesley, MA
Wellesley Square
The town's central shopping district, with the Wellesley Square commuter rail stop and Town Hall nearby.
Central Street and Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
A little history
Wellesley was set off from Needham and incorporated as its own town in 1881, taking its name from Horatio Hollis Hunnewell's estate.
The town has had rail service since 1833, when the Boston & Worcester Railroad (later the Boston & Albany) began running through the area.
Wellesley adopted a representative town meeting form of government in 1934.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Wellesley
Wellesley's outdoor recreation centers on Elm Bank Reservation along the Charles River and on the campuses of Wellesley College and Babson College, both open to public walking.
- Elm Bank Reservation175 acres on the Charles River with formal gardens, woodlands and fields; entrance on Washington Street.
- Wellesley College groundsA 500-acre Olmsted-designed campus around Lake Waban, open for public walking.
Walkability and getting around Wellesley
Wellesley Square and Wellesley Hills, both built around their commuter rail stops, are walkable village centers with shops and restaurants, while much of the rest of town, including the college campuses' surrounding neighborhoods, is built around driving.
Wellesley Hills
Babson Park
Drive times
- Boston, about 13 miles20-30 min
- Logan International Airport, about 18 miles30-40 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The MBTA Commuter Rail has three stops in Wellesley on the Framingham/Worcester Line: Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms, all running to Boston's South Station. Interstate 95/Route 128 and Massachusetts Routes 9 and 16 pass through town.
Wellesley property taxes
Wellesley's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,017 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $20,551, on an average assessed value of $2,020,758.
Wellesley's FY2026 tax rates
$10.17per $1,000, residential
- Residential$10.17 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$2,020,758
- Average single-family tax bill$20,551
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $11.68 |
| FY2023 | $11.45 |
| FY2024 | $10.41 |
| FY2025 | $10.28 |
| FY2026 | $10.17 |
Look up a Wellesley property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 781-431-1019 ext. 2275
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Wellesley
What we check on a Wellesley purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, municipal electric utility.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Norfolk County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for WellesleySmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Wellesley Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 781-235-1300 to schedule.
Wellesley Fire Department pageMassachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing
Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Contact the Wellesley Fire Department to schedule the inspection.
Wellesley Fire DepartmentWellesley runs its own electric utility
The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, not an investor-owned company like Eversource, supplies electricity in town. New owners should set up service directly with the Light Plant.
Wellesley Municipal Light PlantAll loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Wellesley?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Wellesley address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Wellesley: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Wellesley: Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, the town's own electric utility for power.
- ElectricWellesley Municipal Light Plant, the town's own electric utility
- WaterWellesley Department of Public Works, Water & Sewer Division
- Sewer or septicWellesley Department of Public Works, Water & Sewer Division
- Trash and recyclingWellesley's Department of Public Works operates a Recycling & Disposal Facility at 169 Great Plain Avenue for trash and recycling drop-off, open Monday through Saturday.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Recycling & Disposal Facility
169 Great Plain Avenue, Wellesley, MA Mon-Wed 7am-noon; Thu-Sat 7am-3:45pm
Town Hall offices and contacts
Wellesley Town Hall is at 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm. Main line: 781-431-1019.
- Town HallMain line and website781-431-1019
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and voter registration.781-431-1019 ext. 2252
- Assessors' OfficeProperty values and assessments.781-431-1019 ext. 2275
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention, inspections and emergency response.781-235-1300
- Board of HealthSeptic system (Title 5) review, health permits and inspections.781-235-0135
- Department of Public WorksTrash and recycling, roads, water and sewer.781-235-7600
- Municipal Light PlantThe town's own electric utility.781-235-7600
- Wellesley Free LibraryThe town's public library.781-235-1610
- Wellesley Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Wellesley, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Wellesley, MA?
Wellesley's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Wellesley?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,068 a year at $10.17 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Wellesley have a split tax rate?
No. Wellesley uses a single rate of $10.17 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Wellesley?
The average single-family tax bill in Wellesley was $20,551 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $2,020,758.
Who supplies electricity in Wellesley?
The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, the town's own electric utility, supplies electricity.
What ZIP codes does Wellesley use?
Wellesley Square uses 02482, Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms use 02481, and Babson Park uses 02457.
Is there a train to Boston from Wellesley?
Yes. The MBTA Commuter Rail has three stops in town — Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms — on the line to Boston's South Station.
How far is Wellesley from Boston?
Wellesley is about 13 miles west of downtown Boston.
Where does trash and recycling go in Wellesley?
The town's Department of Public Works operates a Recycling & Disposal Facility at 169 Great Plain Avenue for drop-off.
Towns near Wellesley
Neighbors of Wellesley, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Wellesley, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Wellesley College - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Elm Bank Reservation - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Wellesley official website: wellesleyma.gov
- Fire Department staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Board of Health staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Assessors' Office staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Department of Public Works staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Municipal Light Plant staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Town Clerk staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Library staff directory - Wellesley, MA: wellesleyma.gov
- Wellesley Town Hall photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Trevorwelsh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.