Neighborhood · Wellesley, MA

College Heights Eviction Risk: Lower

2 census tracts · pop 10,478 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 1.3/10 · range 1.2–1.3

College Heights is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Wellesley with 2 census tracts and a population of 10,478 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 1.3/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 29% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 15% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $2,593/month sits 10% lower than the Wellesley citywide average ($2,886).

Risk score

1.3

Lower

2 tracts · population-weighted

College Heights vs Wellesley How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

28.9% +6%

Wellesley: 27.3%

Average gross rent

$2,593 -10%

Wellesley: $2,886

Average HH income

$227,720 -9%

Wellesley: $250,001

Poverty rate

5.3% +65%

Wellesley: 3.2%

Renter share

26.4% +69%

Wellesley: 15.6%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across College Heights and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 1.2–1.3

Why College Heights scores 1.3

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 6.2–6.2 across tracts

6.2

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 6.8–6.8 across tracts

6.8

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 7.1–7.1 across tracts

7.1

Rent control risk

29% of income on rent · Range 3.7–3.7 across tracts

3.7

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.4–5.4 across tracts

5.4

Tenant organizing strength

26% renter households · Range 3.9–3.9 across tracts

3.9

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 3.1–3.1 across tracts

3.1

Economic stress

5.3% below poverty line · Range 1.1–1.5 across tracts

1.4

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 3.4–5.6 across tracts

4.2

Risk score comparison

College Heights vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in College Heights

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
25021404400	1.3	6,823	30%	$2,375
25021404302	1.2	3,655	26%	$3,000

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 24

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 12%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 35%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 46%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 47%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in College Heights

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

6.3%Housing insecurity
3.9%Utility shutoff threat
7.5%Food insecurity
7.2%SNAP enrollment
2.8%No health insurance
22.4%Any disability

Frequently asked

About College Heights

What is the eviction-risk score for College Heights?

College Heights scores 1.3/10 (Lower tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does College Heights compare to Wellesley overall?

College Heights scores 4.3 points lower than Wellesley overall (5.6/10). Renters spend 29% of income on rent vs 27% citywide. Average rent: $2,593 vs $2,886.

What is the average rent in College Heights?

Average gross rent in College Heights is $2,593/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 29% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of College Heights residents are renters?

26% of College Heights households are renter-occupied (vs 16% in Wellesley). The neighborhood has 10,478 residents.

Is College Heights a high social-vulnerability area?

College Heights sits in the 24th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (low vulnerability). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in College Heights have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in College Heights is census tract 25021404400 (score 1.3/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 1.2 to 1.3, a spread of 0.1 points.

How safe is College Heights for landlords?

College Heights carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (1.3/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Wellesley as a whole (5.6/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of College Heights?

College Heights has 10,089 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (68.9%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (15.1%), Hispanic / Latino (6.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near College Heights

1.1 Linden Street 2 tracts · pop 9,253 1.1 Needham Junction 3 tracts · pop 17,678 1.4 Eliot Triangle 2 tracts · pop 6,857 1.2 Dedham Square 2 tracts · pop 9,908 2.5 Fisher Hill 2 tracts · pop 10,139 1.1 Readville 2 tracts · pop 6,867

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Wellesley

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to College Heights.

1.1 Poets' Corner 1 tracts · pop 4,295 1.1 Linden Street 2 tracts · pop 9,253 1.1 Wellesley Fells 1 tracts · pop 5,836

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