In 2016 I did a blog entry on the top school district in Massachusetts and thought it would be interesting to see if the list of the top district in 2017 for Massachusetts had changed from the first entry, and like home values, some towns either switched positions or were not mentioned on the list that they were mentioned the year prior
2016 Top School Districts in Massachusetts for 2016
1) Dover
2) Lexington
3)Weston
4)Wayland
5)Newton
6)Wellesley
7)Harvard
8)Acton-Boxford
9) Bedford
10) Winchester
photo-Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty 25 Smith St Dover MA
In 2017 Dover-Sherborn still claimed the top spot for School Districts in Massachusetts. The Median home price in 2016 was 1.05M. The Median List Price in Dover is 1.2 million, and 92% of the population own and only 8% rent in Dover Massachusetts. In 2017 The Median List Home price in 2017 was 1.6M and median home sold for 1.2 Million according to Realtor.com. Dover-Sherborn enrollment in their public school is 2,087 and average class size was 17.2 with a student-teacher ratio of 11.6. Dover had a 98% graduating rate in 2016 and dropped down one percent in 2017.
photo-Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty-785 Barretts Mill Rd Concord MA
The town that took the number two spot in Boston Magazine top School district in 2017 was Concord–Carlisle which last year was number 12 in the state. The Median Home price in 2016 was 820,00 and in 2017 home prices are 1.4M according to realtor.com. Concord-Carlisle had 1290 students enrolled in their public school and their average class size in 2016 18 students per class with a student-teacher ratio 13.2 and in 2017 they have increased their size to 3,974 with an average class size of 16.4 and student to teacher ratio of 12.6 and there graduation rate in 2016 was 96.8 Percent and in 2017 they are 97.5% students graduating college.
Photo Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty –13 Gypsy Trail Weston MA
The number three schools in Massachusetts in 2016 and in 2017 was Weston. Median Estimated Home Value in Weston Massachusetts in 2016 was $1,350,000 and the median list price to buy a home in Weston is 1.93 million in 2016. In 2017 according to realtor.com, the median list price was 2.2 million and the median closing price was 1.3 million in 2016 Weston at an enrollment of 726 in their school and now their enrollment in 2017 is 2,164 with an average class size of 15.5 and in 2016 the average class size was 13.7 per class and the student ration in 2016 was 10 students to a teacher and in 2017 it is 12.8 and in 2016 the graduation rate was 100% and in 2017 it is 93%
Photo Barrett Sotheby’s International Realty-11 Journeys End Ln U:11, Lexington, MA
The Number four schools to make the list was Lexington for 2017 and last year the number 4 spot went to Wayland. Lexington was the number 2 spot in 2016. In 2016 The Median estimated home value is 939,980. The Median List Price in Lexington MA is 1.25 Million with 82% homeowners in Lexington and only 18% rent. In 2017 the average list price was 1.4M and average sale price for 2017 was 1M according to realtor.com in 2016 enrollment for Lexington MA 2154 and in 2017 enrollment is 7,072 in their schools. The average class size in 2016 was 19.4 and in 2017 19.6. The Student teacher ratio in 2016 was 12.6 and in 2017 the student-teacher ratio was 12.2 the graduation rate has dropped slightly it was 98% and has dropped to 96%.
Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty- 79 Old Sudbury Rd, Wayland, MA
The number five school on Boston Magazine list is Wayland, which was number 4 in 2016. The Median Estimated Home Value in 2016 was $668,060. The Median List Price is $859,000. Sixty-two percent of residents own and only Thirty-eight percent rent. Today the Median Estimated Home Value today according to realtor.com is down from last year $842,000 and average closing for 2017 is actually lower at $754,000. Enrollment in 2016 was 838 and in 2017 it is up to 2,646. The average class size in 2016 was 16 and in 2017 it has only gone up slightly 16.9. The Student teacher ratio in 2016 was 11.8 and in 2017 it is 12.8. The graduation rate in 2016 97% and in 2017 they are about the same.
Photo Barrett Sotheby’s International Realty 4 Graniteville Road, Westford, MA
Westford Mass has the number six spot which in 2016 this town didn’t even make the top ten it was number 22 on Boston Magazine top schools. In 2016 the median estimated home value was $481,000 and in 2017 the median home value according to realtor.com is $575,000 and sold for $499,000. Enrollment Westford Schools in 2016 1682 students and in 2017 5120 students enrolled in Westford School Systems. The average class size in 2016 19.5 students and in 2017 the average class has 19 students. The student to teacher ratio was 14.9 in 2016 and in 2017 the ratio was 14.1. The graduation rate in 2016 was 94.5% and in 2017 97%.
Photo- Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty-235 Highland Street Newton MA
Newton Mass was number 5 in 2016 and in 2017 it has dropped to number 7. Median Home Value in Newton $920,570 and Median List price is $995,000. 70% of residents own in Newton and 30% rent in Newton. The median list price in 2017 was 1.6M and sold for 1M according to realtor.com. Enrollment in 2016 was 1799 and in 2017 enrollment was 12,627. The average class size in 2016 14.4 and in 2017 was 18.0. The student-teacher ratio in 2016 was 11.6 and in 2017 it is 11.9. The graduation rate 97.3 in 2016 and in 2017 the graduation rate 97.4.
Photo-Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty- 302 Grove Street Wellesley, MA
Wellesley Mass was number 6 last year lists and dropped to number 8 in 2017. Wellesley School had 1513 enrolled in the school and the average class size was 15.6 per class. Wellesley scored above 95% in math, science, and reading. Students graduate 97% of the time and 86% go on to college. In 2017 5,018 were enrolled an average class size was 17.7 and student to teacher ratio 13.3 and had a graduation rate of 96%. The Median home price in 2016 was 1.5M and in 2017 the average list price is 1.6 and sells for 1M.
Photo-Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty- 20 Ocean St, Manchester, MA
Manchester Essex in 2016 was number 14 and moved up number 9 in 2017. In 2016 the average enrollment was 432 and in 2017 enrollment was up 1396. The average class size in 2016 13.9 and in 2017 17.4 and student-teacher ratio in 2016 was 11.9 and in 2017 the student-teacher ratio was 10.7. The graduation rate for Manchester Essex was 97% in 2016 and in 2017 is about the same as it was in 2016. The median home price in 2016 was 1 Million and in 2017 the average list is 1.6M and Sold for $830,000.
Photo- Hazel Sotheby’s International Realty-37 East Bare Hill Road Harvard MA
Harvard the median income for a household in the town was $107,934, and the median income for a family was $119,352. The Median Estimated home value is $573,300. The Median List price in Harvard is $582,000. Harvard doesn’t boast high numbers of people who have a college degree or postgraduate degrees, but the median household income is $65,453. The Average resident spends under 30 minutes commuting to and from work each day.
Harvard School System or otherwise known and the Bloomfield School has an enrollment of 416 students with the average class size 16.3 students per class and a student to teacher ratio of 13.3.1. They Scored above 90% in Math and Science and 100% in Reading. 94% of the students who attend Bloomfield School System have a rate of 94% graduate rate and 90% attend college after graduation. Harvard was number 7 in 2016 and in 2017 dropped to number 10. In 2017 Harvard had 1117 enrollment and had a class size of 16.6 and had a teacher to student average size of 12.1 and had a graduation rate of 94.4. The List Price for 2017 was $685,000 and sold for $615,000
Winchester and Bedford didn’t make the list top 10 but did make the top 20 schools. Both are still great places to call home and attend their schools. The Median estimated home value of Winchester Mass is $869,020. The Median List price $1.05M and 84% own and only 16% rent. Resident in Winchester offers a good some of their population college educated with 30% holding a bachelor degree and 41% hold a Post Graduate degree. The Median Household income for Winchester $141,829. The average homeowner travels less than 30 minutes to and from work, and most do drive but public transportation in Winchester is relatively high. Winchester is along the Lowell Commuter rail making it fairly easy to get into the city.
Winchester School System had 1,220 students enrolled and their average class size was 16.1 and their student to teacher ratio was 14.1.1. Students tested very high in reading, math, and science all in the 90% area. The graduation rate was 98% however not all high school graduates attend college was at 89%. In 2017 Winchester School Systems 4,623 and have a 19.2 class size with a student-teacher ratio of 13.1 with a graduation rate of 96%
Bedford MA School System The Median Home Value in Bedford is 640,640 and the average list price is $747,000. It is unknown what percentage owns versus rents in the area. Higher Education for both College Educated and post-grad is about the same at 26%, but schools in the area are nothing to turn one’s nose up. Bedford is ranked number 10 and like many other towns on the list, they tested high in math, science, and reading. Students enrolled in their school systems have approx. 859 students and have an average class size 11.9 and have a teacher ratio of 11:1.1. They both have a high percentage of students who graduate from High School and College. Both are rated above 90%.
The Median Household income $83,488, and most people tend to drive to work, but if they wanted to take mass transit Concord Commuter Rail would be the nearest location if you didn’t want to drive. The average commute is approx. 30 minutes going each way. In 2017 The Median home $719,000 and Sold for $655,000. Enrollment in 2017 Bedford Schools was 2,608 with an average class size of 14.5 and a student-teacher ratio of 11.7 with the graduation rate of 92%.
Again Both Winchester and Bedford didn’t make the top 10 list like they did in 2016 but they are still not a bad neighborhood to call home or start a family in. Those of you who have called home in one of these towns you have great reason to smile when you have good schools it just helps your home value. If your a buyer wanting to move into a new town this data often helps make choosing where a little easy. If you want to see the complete list of top schools in Mass then check out the complete list for 2017 here. Contact me if you have questions or are in the market to buy a new home or if your thinking about selling in one of these towns.
If you are trying to find a new place to call home or thinking about selling contact me.
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