Wellesley and Weston. Why?

I was driving on Route 20 this past Saturday on my way to and from a showing in Marlborough. And the thought reoccurred to me: What, in geographic terms, makes Wellesley and Weston the two towns in Massachusetts with the most expensive real estate? This thought has crossed my mind many times over the years. I understand the socio-political reasoning; money begets money, Wellesley College, a Bentley dealership, et cetera. But geographically speaking, I can’t think of an overriding reason or reasons for the argument that those two towns are the most expensive in Massachusetts. Think about it, some of the most expensive real estate in Massachuetts is tied to geography; Chatham, Lee, Lenox and Nantucket are a few of the most expensive towns in Massachusetts and they have prominent mountain and/or ocean views. Sure, Weston and Wellesley are a straight shot into downtown Boston and Logan Airport on the Mass Pike but they aren’t close to either a large body of water or the mountains.

I lived in East Boston and Cohasset while growing up (Don’t ask, different blog for a different day.), which are both on the water. Anyway, I could see the Atlantic Ocean from my windows at the top of Orient Heights in East Boston or I could walk down Forest Avenue to Black Rock Beach in Cohasset to see the waves roll in on a blustery day. I also lived in The Fenway and West Tisbury (Vineyard Haven) in my twenties. I could head out of my apartment in The Fenway and go for a run around the Charles River or drive to the cliffs of Gay Head while living on Martha’s Vineyard. What I am saying is, if everything were equal and geography was the only variable, I would much rather live in Cohasset or Marblehead or downtown Boston than Wellesley or Weston. Any thoughts?