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Stop Overpaying for Top School Districts: The Private School Math That Nobody Wants You to Do

Under 1 min read
November 24, 2025
THE BOTTOM LINE

Buying a $600K Framingham home + paying $40K/year private school tuition saves $437K over 18 years vs. buying $1.65M Wellesley home for public schools—after accounting for property appreciation, taxes, mortgage costs, and opportunity costs on the price differential.

WHO NEEDS THIS

Families assuming expensive school districts = best financial decision; parents willing to challenge conventional wisdom with data; buyers prioritizing outcomes over neighborhood status.

KEY INSIGHTS
  • Total 18-year cost: Wellesley $2.89M | Framingham + private school $2.45M | Savings: $437K
  • Wellesley property taxes alone ($16.6K/year) nearly cover 42% of private school tuition
  • $1.05M price differential invested at 7% = $720K over 18 years—covers all tuition + $180K profit
  • Private school outcomes often exceed elite public districts: 100% college matriculation, 12:1 ratios, Ivy pipelines
  • The real cost: social signaling, peer validation, and identity protection—not educational quality
DO THIS NEXT

Calculate your own scenario: Take your target town's median price, subtract cheaper alternative, invest the difference at conservative 6-7% return. Compare 18-year total cost including taxes, opportunity costs, and appreciation. Most families won't do this math because they fear the answer.

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