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Living in
Arlington.
Arlington is an unincorporated community in Middlesex County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Arlington
If you're seriously considering Arlington, understand that you're looking at a solidly affluent Boston suburb where the median home price is around $934,000 and median rent runs $2,082 a month—this is not an affordable option, but it's notably less expensive than many closer-in Boston neighborhoods. The job market is strong (4.1% unemployment), and most residents commute into Boston proper or work locally; your average commute is about 32 minutes, which varies considerably depending on where you're headed. The town has good bones: tree-lined streets, solid schools with a 74.4% college degree rate among adults, and reasonable access to green space including the Minuteman Bikeway that connects you to Lexington and the Red Line.
Arlington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Foreign-Born
18.6%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.6% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Arlington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Arlington, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (14.8%), and 6.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Arlington
In Arlington, rent runs 18% above the MA average, and home values are 66% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,604
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1945
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,057,808 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Arlington
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Arlington, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Arlington: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Arlington is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Arlington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.2 min avg
How Arlington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Arlington, most residents drive alone to work (44%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Arlington runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
44.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
453.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Arlington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Arlington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Arlington is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Arlington, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Arlington is about 3% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Arlington has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.4"
Annual Snowfall
63.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 4.89" |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 4.34" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.76" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 4.01" |
| Dec | 43°F | 24°F | 5.02" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Arlington
Uninsured
1.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Arlington's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mclean Hospital Corporation
Psychiatric · 2.5 mi away · Belmont
Mount Auburn Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Cambridge
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Winchester
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Arlington
Arlington's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 76.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
76.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Arlington (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
9.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Arlington
Arlington has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayPublic Libraries in Arlington
Robbins Library
700 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington
Edith M. Fox Library
175 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington
Cities Near Arlington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Arlington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Arlington FAQ
Is Arlington, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Arlington's median rent is $2,082/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $150,701/year. Median home value is $933,800.
Is Arlington, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Arlington's violent crime rate was 45 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 453 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Arlington, Massachusetts?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Arlington, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Arlington, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Arlington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,082/month and median household income is $150,701/year. The median home value is $933,800. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Arlington, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Arlington is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from