Living in Arlington means waking up in a town that sits only six miles from Boston but feels like its own place. Spy Pond catches the morning light, joggers cut across the Minuteman Bikeway, and Massachusetts Avenue hums with buses, coffee shops, and grocery runs.
Arlington real estate is mostly residential, with tree-lined streets with Colonials, two-families, and condos, yet the town’s proximity to Cambridge and Alewife Station makes it a convenient spot in Middlesex County for anyone balancing work in the city with a quieter home base.
What Are The Best Neighborhoods In Arlington, MA?
Ask ten Arlington residents about neighborhoods and you’ll get ten different answers. Locals usually talk in landmarks.
In East Arlington, you can walk to Capitol Square, grab a bagel on Mass Ave, or catch the 77 bus to Harvard Square. Two-family houses and condo conversions are everywhere, and the Minuteman Bikeway slices right through.
Arlington Center is where errands get done. Town Hall, the Robbins Library, and the Farmers’ Market on Mystic Street keep the area busy. Housing here runs from single-families tucked on side streets to small multifamily homes near the shops and banks.
Head west into Arlington Heights and you’ll climb Park Avenue toward Robbins Farm Park. Folks call it Skyline Park for good reason: the view stretches across the Boston skyline. In summer, neighbors spread blankets for outdoor movies, and in winter, sleds race down the hill toward Brackett School.
Up by Morningside and Pleasant Street, Spy Pond and Menotomy Rocks Park change the pace. These areas feel hillier and more tucked away, with trails, picnic spots, and quiet streets.
What Are The Most Popular House Types in Arlington, MA?
The housing stock here is classic Massachusetts.
You’ll see wood-frame Colonials, Capes, and the occasional Queen Anne with a wrap-around porch. Arlington real estate also includes plenty of two-family homes, especially in East Arlington, many split into condos over the years.
Triple-deckers pop up here and there, while newer townhouses and infill projects line parts of Mass Ave and Broadway.
What Is The Cost Of Living In Arlington, MA?
The cost of living in Arlington is higher than the national average, mostly because housing pulls the numbers up.
The Assessor set the 2025 property tax rate at $10.77 per $1,000 of value. Water and sewer come through MWRA, and electricity is handled by Eversource, with the town offering its own Community Electricity program.
Housing is the biggest piece. HUD’s 2025 Fair Market Rent numbers for the Boston area put a one-bedroom at $2,394, a two-bedroom at $2,837, and a three-bedroom at $3,418. Actual listings in Arlington real estate often run higher, but those figures give a baseline.
Day-to-day expenses line up with the Boston area. Whole Foods in Arlington Center and Stop & Shop down Mass Ave handle most grocery runs, and both are walkable from plenty of residential blocks.
What Are The Average House Prices in Arlington, MA?
Buying a home in Arlington isn’t cheap, and the numbers show how competitive the town has become. As of mid-2025, the typical home value in Arlington sits just over $1.07 million, while the median sale price is running closer to $1.1 million. Single-family homes are even higher, with the average sale pushing around $1.3 million and many closing in the $1.2–$1.25 million range.
Condominiums in Arlington offer a slightly more attainable entry point, with most selling between $800,000 and $900,000 depending on location and size. Even so, condos here have seen steady appreciation, reflecting the strong demand across Middlesex County.
If you’re looking at homes in Arlington, expect prices to start near a million for a single-family home and to move quickly once a listing hits the market. The mix of historic Colonials, two-families, and newer townhouses keeps the Arlington real estate market dynamic, but tight inventory means well-priced properties don’t last long.
Who Are The Major Employers in Arlington, MA?
Most Arlington residents head out of town for work, commuting into Cambridge, Boston, Lexington, or Waltham.
Inside Arlington, the Town of Arlington and Arlington Public Schools are among the biggest employers. Leader Bank’s headquarters sits right on Mass Ave, and clinics connected to Beth Israel Lahey Health operate on Broadway and Mill Street.
Is It Easy To Commute in Arlington, MA?
Even without a subway stop, commuting is manageable.
The MBTA 77 bus runs straight down Mass Ave to Harvard Square, while the 62 and 76 routes connect the northwest corner to Alewife Station on the Red Line. For drivers, Route 2 cuts along the southern edge of town and feeds into Cambridge or out toward Route 128.
Plenty of Arlington residents rely on the Minuteman Bikeway, especially in warmer months. Bluebikes stations have popped up at Mass Ave and Grafton Street, making quick trips to Alewife or Davis Square stress-free without a car.
What Are The Best Schools in Arlington, MA?
Arlington Public Schools include seven elementary schools, Gibbs for sixth grade, Ottoson Middle for grades 7–8, and Arlington High School. In 2024, 98.8% of Arlington High students graduated on time, one of the highest rates in the state.
Recent MCAS results show Arlington students performing at or above state benchmarks in most subjects, with math and science at the high school level scoring especially well.
Is Arlington a Safe Place to Live?
Arlington has a reputation for being one of the safer towns in the Boston area, and the numbers reflect that. Recent reports put the violent crime rate at about 60 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is dramatically lower than the national average. Property crime is also well below U.S. levels, averaging around 595 cases per 100,000 residents.
Put differently, the odds of being affected by a violent crime here are roughly 1 in 1,000, and for property crime, it’s closer to 1 in 200. While no town is without incidents, Arlington’s police logs and state statistics suggest that crime tends to be the exception rather than part of everyday life.
For residents, that means things like walking to the Farmers’ Market in the Center, biking along the Minuteman, or catching the bus on Mass Ave feel routine and low-stress. Safety isn’t something most people are constantly worried about here, though it’s always smart to check the latest police updates if you’re moving to a new neighborhood.
What’s The Real Estate Market Like In Arlington, MA?
The housing market in Arlington moves quickly. Homes don’t sit on the market long, and it’s common to see several buyers competing for the same property.
With fewer listings available than people looking to move here, prices have been climbing, and well-priced houses often sell within days of hitting the market.
What’s The Community Like in Arlington, MA?
Community life blends small-town and metropolitan rhythms.
On a weekend, you might bike the Minuteman to Lexington, grab produce at the Farmers’ Market in Arlington Center, then end the day with a show at the Regent Theatre.
Green spaces anchor the town. Spy Pond is popular for kayaking, while Menotomy Rocks Park offers shady trails. Robbins Farm Park draws families year-round with sledding in January, concerts in July, and skyline views every evening.
Arlington residents often talk about how easy it is to mix outdoor space, neighborhood shops, and quick transport to Boston in a single day.
What Are The Best Things To Do In Arlington?
Summer means Reservoir Beach, open daily with lifeguards and day passes.
The Minuteman Bikeway is a constant, busy with bikes, strollers, and joggers heading toward Cambridge or Bedford. For views, nothing beats Robbins Farm Park at sunset, where the Boston skyline lights up behind the playground. Cultural events at the Regent Theatre, seasonal concerts, and community festivals fill out the calendar.
Living in Arlington keeps residents connected to both neighborhood life and Boston’s cultural scene, making it a great place to live with plenty of opportunities right outside the front door.
FAQs About Living in Arlington, Massachusetts
How far is Arlington from Boston?
Arlington is about six miles from downtown Boston, making it one of the closer suburbs in Middlesex County.
Most residents either drive via Route 2 or rely on MBTA buses to connect with the Red Line at Alewife Station or Harvard Square, which keeps commutes relatively short.
Which MBTA bus routes serve Arlington?
The 77 bus runs along Massachusetts Avenue between Arlington Heights and Harvard Square, providing a direct link into Cambridge.
Routes 62 and 76 also pass through the northwest part of town, connecting riders to Alewife Station, which is often the fastest way to access the rest of the Boston area.
How can I check a home value in Arlington?
If you’re curious about what a home is worth in Arlington, the Town Assessor makes it pretty simple. Their online database lets you type in a street address and pull up details like the current assessed value, the date of the last sale, and even basic property information such as the building style or year built.
It’s the same tool residents use every year when tax bills go out, and it’s handy for comparing homes across different neighborhoods.
Which schools serve Arlington residents?
Arlington Public Schools include seven elementary schools, Gibbs for grade 6, Ottoson Middle for grades 7–8, and Arlington High School.
Because school assignments depend on your street address, the district provides a School Locator map, but it’s always best to double-check directly with the school system since boundaries can change.
What’s the average rent in Arlington?
HUD’s Fair Market Rent schedule for 2025 lists a one-bedroom at $2,394 and a two-bedroom at $2,837 in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area, which includes Arlington.
