Population 6,377 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in College Heights
Household size in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.73 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.83 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.89 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.81 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.22 | +0.08 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in College Heights average 2.61 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in Wellesley as a whole, where it has 2.81 people. Household size has climbed from 2.40 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.9 | 38.7 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.0 | 38.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.4 | 39.4 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.5 | 40.5 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.8 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of College Heights is 37.5 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 7.8% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 5.0% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 6.5% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.0% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.6% of households in College Heights, well below the national share of 11.6%. Wellesley as a whole looks much the same.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in College Heights
Renters in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 20.1% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.7% | 17.4% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.4% | 18.9% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 15.5% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.2 pts | −4.6 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
College Heights is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Even so, renters make up a bigger share here than in Wellesley as a whole (15.5%). The renter share has fallen 9.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 9.6% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 7.9% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.0% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.3% of homes in College Heights are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Wellesley as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 6.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1947 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1949 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1952 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1956 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +15 | +10 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
College Heights is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Even so, homes here are newer than in Wellesley overall, where the median home dates to 1956. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,413 | $1,428 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,732 | $1,693 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,523 | $2,297 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,753 | $3,000 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,340 | +$1,571 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in College Heights runs $2,753 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Wellesley overall ($3,000). Rents are up $1,340 a month from 2006–10, a 95% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 26.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in College Heights
Bachelor's degrees in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.1% | 79.4% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 81.1% | 83.3% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 81.7% | 84.0% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 88.3% | 89.0% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.2 pts | +9.6 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College Heights is highly educated: about nine in ten adults 25 and older (88.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. That is in line with the rest of Wellesley. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.2 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.3% | 97.5% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.2% | 98.2% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.9% | 97.9% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 72.0% | 87.8% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −24.3 pts | −9.7 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults in College Heights never finished high school, well above the national share: only 72.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has fallen 24.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in College Heights
| Period | College Heights | Wellesley | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 5.5% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in College Heights is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Wellesley as a whole (4.1%). Unemployment has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
College Heights compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Heights | 2.61 | 37.5 | 4.6% | 18.6% | 4.3% | 1961 | $2,753 | 88.3% | 72.0% | 6.0% |
| Lasell Village | 2.67 | 32.9 | 3.4% | 33.5% | 10.9% | 1949 | $2,442 | 77.7% | 95.4% | 2.1% |
| Greendale Village | 2.98 | 41.5 | 8.3% | 9.8% | 2.1% | 1965 | $3,482 | 83.8% | 98.7% | 0.5% |
| West Newton | 2.64 | 43.3 | 6.8% | 34.4% | 6.1% | 1942 | $2,347 | 80.4% | 98.2% | 3.0% |
| South Side | 2.21 | 34.3 | 8.4% | 66.4% | 4.9% | 1953 | $2,036 | 62.1% | 93.1% | 4.3% |
| Oak Hill | 2.66 | 50.6 | 1.6% | 12.5% | 5.4% | 1967 | $2,791 | 84.1% | 98.7% | 1.8% |
| Thompsonville | 2.53 | 47.6 | 3.2% | 26.5% | 8.1% | 1958 | $2,766 | 84.3% | 98.9% | 4.8% |
| Bank Square | 2.38 | 34.0 | 12.8% | 64.7% | 8.7% | 1953 | $2,010 | 51.9% | 83.9% | 5.9% |
| Waltham Highlands | 2.33 | 40.5 | 4.1% | 36.1% | 7.2% | 1946 | $1,691 | 58.4% | 94.6% | 3.0% |
| Bleachery | 2.05 | 39.0 | 6.9% | 64.4% | 5.5% | 1972 | $2,507 | 54.4% | 90.8% | 4.5% |
| Nonantum | 2.48 | 43.6 | 5.5% | 50.3% | 5.2% | 1946 | $2,032 | 70.0% | 94.6% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: South Lorain, Lorain, OH · Woodlake, San Antonio, TX · Crosstown, Memphis, TN · White City, Fort Pierce, FL · Calico Ridge, Henderson, NV · Carpenter, Ann Arbor, MI · White Bridge, Nashville, TN · Indian Hill, Chicago Heights, IL · San Mateo, San Juan, PR · Waterfront, Santa Barbara, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up College Heights. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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