This quiet college hamlet has been named the next boomtown in America

A town just 15 miles west of Boston has officially been named Massachusetts’ biggest boomtown, proving that rapid growth and prosperity aren’t just reserved for the state’s major cities. Wellesley, best known for its prestigious women’s liberal arts college Wellesley College, has emerged as the Bay State’s fastest-growing community, with residents raking in an average income of at least $110,000. The town’s rapid ascent to the top was confirmed by a recent ranking from GoBankingRates, which analyzed economic expansion, population growth and housing market trends. This designation marks a shift in the state’s economic landscape, as Worcester, a central Massachusetts city, held the title just two years ago.So what’s behind Wellesley’s meteoric rise? The town’s upward trajectory didn’t happen overnight. Wellesley has long been a haven for affluence, with stately homes and meticulously landscaped properties dotting its tree-lined streets. By 1880, the town was already flourishing, introducing its first newspaper, bank and telephone service as its population surged. Local leaders ensured that progress remained steady, embracing modern conveniences early on. “The citizens of the town of Wellesley, both collectively and individually, are constantly endeavoring to obtain for their town, their homes and themselves all that is best from Nature and Art,” an article from 1906 declared. Even before the turn of the 20th century, Wellesley boasted a thriving railroad network, Massachusetts’ first golf course, a robust water system and a slew of town improvement initiatives. By the 1920s, it had already solidified its status as one of Greater Boston’s premier suburban enclaves. Wellesley’s population has steadily increased, growing 3.4% since 2014 to reach 29,862 residents.

Housing demand has followed suit — occupied housing units have risen by 4%, while owner-occupied homes have seen a 6.1% uptick. But the real jaw-dropper is the town...