Living in Belmont, MA: A Complete Guide to Living in This Charming New England Town

Living in Belmont means you’re only about 8 miles from Downtown Boston, yet day‑to‑day life feels worlds apart from the city bustle.

A quick ride on the Commuter Rail from Belmont Center or Waverley Square gets you to North Station in roughly fifteen minutes, and drivers can hop on I‑95 or Route 2 for a short drive into the Greater Boston area.

Ask any long‑time resident in Belmont, and they’ll tell you the town’s secret sauce is its “everybody‑knows‑your‑name” vibe.

Weekend strolls along the tree‑lined streets of Belmont Center often turn into impromptu chats outside Bellmont Caffe, and newcomers quickly discover a genuine sense of community that makes relocating here feel less like paperwork and more like coming home.

Belmont packs a lot into its 4.7 square miles.

Belmont Hill is famous for panoramic views and stately single‑family colonials.

Cushing Square is brimming with locally owned shops, while Waverley Square delivers a slightly grittier, transit‑oriented edge, not unlike nearby Watertown or Arlington. 

All of them sit comfortably within a true suburb of Boston, offering that perfect blend of suburban quiet plus easy access to city perks.

From Victorians near Harvard Square to mid‑century ranches by Beaver Brook and modern townhomes near Alewife Station, there’s a style for every buyer who wants to live in Belmont.

Many streets feel walkable and safe, and everything is, quite literally, walkable—a claim locals repeat often.

Belmont’s real estate market is undeniably pricey.

In June 2025, the median list price hit about $1.69 million, while the median sale price hovered near $1.53 million, both higher than the national average.

That price tag reflects a town routinely named one of the best places to live in the Boston area and one of the most desirable corners of Middlesex County.

The public school system is Belmont’s calling card.

Belmont Public Schools consistently ranks in the top five statewide, earning an overall A+ on Niche.

Test scores, robust music programs, and competitive sports make Belmont High School and the brand‑new Belmont Middle‑High campus magnets for families seeking great schools.

For those exploring independent options, Belmont Hill School offers a rigorous boys’ preparatory curriculum, while Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary run nature‑based programs popular with homeschooling families.

Just over the border, elite institutions in Cambridge, Lexington, and Arlington widen the academic net.

Green space is everywhere.

Beaver Brook Reservation spans 59 acres of ponds, waterfalls, and gentle walking trails, while the Rock Meadow Conservation Area links cyclists to the Western Greenway via meadow paths and walking trails bursting with many wild animals. 

The 88‑acre Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary layers in boardwalks over vernal pools, proving that living in Belmont means you can spot a red fox before breakfast.

Mornings start strong in Belmont Center with a foamy cappuccino at Bellmont Caffe; if you linger, the line of locals picking up croissants proves it’s a neighborhood ritual.

Over in Cushing Square, Ovenbird Cafe turns the old Vicki Lee’s space into a sunny spot for lavender lattes and scratch‑made frittatas, while the pastry case at Quebrada Baking Co. keeps commuters fueled with currant scones and warm breakfast sandwiches. 

When dinner rolls around, white‑tablecloth Italian at Il Casale means silky pappardelle alla Bolognese in a historic firehouse, while the buzzy bar at The Wellington pours craft cocktails beside comfort‑food classics like truffled mac and cheese.

Craving spice? Leonard Street’s longtime favorite Patou Thai nails the balance of heat and basil without making you trek into Cambridge. 

Sweet finishes and rainy‑day browsing are equally easy: a scoop of malted vanilla from Rancatore’s Ice Cream & Yogurt hits the spot before ducking into Belmont Books for a new release and espresso from its in‑store café.

Vinyl hunters swear by Want List Records for meticulously curated jazz and punk crates, and a full grocery run at the Trapelo Road Star Market means you can skip the drive to Waltham altogether. 

Catch a chamber concert at the Belmont Public Library’s temporary Beech Street space or tour the art exhibits hosted by Belmont Hill students each spring.

History buffs can trace trolley routes that once defined the MBTA network or study a detailed map of Belmont at the town's historical society.

Door‑to‑door, a commuter can leave a small‑town backyard barbecue at six and still make a seven o’clock curtain in Boston’s Theatre District.

Belmont also borders Cambridge, Arlington, Waltham, and Watertown, putting you minutes from biotech corridors and university campuses.

Two MBTA Commuter Rail stops sit inside town lines, and the Red Line terminus at Alewife provides a straight shot to Downtown Boston via Harvard Square.

Cyclists favor the Minuteman Bikeway extension, while motorists appreciate quick links to major highways like I‑95. 

Belmont’s year starts with solemn gratitude at the Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade, which moves from Grove Street Cemetery to the veterans’ memorial beside Clay Pit Pond.

Summer brings Wednesday‑night sets at the Payson Park Music Festival and Thursday afternoons at the Belmont Farmers’ Market, where fresh berries, live folk tunes, and kids’ crafts turn Claflin Street into a weekly block party.

September stacks two town favorites: Town Day, when Leonard Street closes for vendors, rides, and street eats, and Belmont Porchfest, a roam‑as‑you‑please music crawl that turns front stoops into stages.

The calendar wraps with the early‑December Turn on the Town tree lighting, where Santa rolls in on a fire engine, carolers warm the air, and Leonard Street flickers to life in unison. 

Golfers daydream about membership at Belmont Country Club, a private 18‑hole course dating to 1908.

Book lovers compare Belmont reviews at library author talks, and the local pickleball league has turned the parks and playgrounds near Beaver Brook into noisy social hubs.

Sticker shock is real.

PayScale pegs the cost of living in Belmont at roughly 68 percent above the national average, and even everyday basics like coffee can feel pricey.

That said, an average salary in Greater Boston tech or healthcare goes further here than in San Francisco, and residents argue that safety, schools, and easy access to Boston offset the premium. 

Belmont’s violent crime rate is remarkably low—about one in 1,680—making it a safe town by almost any measure and a safe place to live at night. 

Many locals say they’ve always felt safe walking late‑night loops around the pond, and the police department’s annual reports show figures well below both state and national average benchmarks.

The town offers the perfect blend of green spaces, top‑ranked schools, reliable transit, and a robust public school system that keeps property values strong.

Living in Belmont means you can sip espresso at dawn, spot a heron in the marsh by noon, and still make a Red Sox game after work.

High housing costs, limited nightlife, and an occasional bottleneck on Pleasant Street during the morning commute remind you that paradise isn’t free.

Some would‑be buyers relocate to spots like Lexington or Arlington when budgets tighten.

If you value great schools, walkable neighborhoods, and quick train rides into Boston, moving to Belmont could be your next smart play. The town is one of the best places to live for folks chasing a perfect blend of suburban calm and urban opportunity.

Just be ready for prices that reflect both demand and Belmont’s reputation as one of the most desirable communities in the Greater Boston area.

Belmont’s median sale price sits north of $1.5 million, markedly higher than towns like Lexington or Arlington. Limited land, strong school demand, and proximity to Boston push values up. While some neighboring suburbs are cheaper, they often lack the same Belmont Public Schools reputation or the quick Commuter Rail trip to North Station.

Yes. Two Fitchburg Line stations drop you in Boston in roughly fifteen minutes, and the nearby Red Line at Alewife offers direct subway access to Cambridge and downtown. Add frequent bus routes and proximity to major highways like I‑95 and Route 2, and commuting options feel plentiful even for car‑free households.

Residents enjoy Beaver Brook Reservation, Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Rock Meadow Conservation Area, and numerous neighborhood parks. Whether you crave long walking trails, pond‑side picnics, or organized youth sports on manicured fields, Belmont’s outdoor menu keeps families and dog walkers happy year‑round.

Niche ranks the district #3 statewide, and SAT scores routinely eclipse the national average. Advanced placement courses, award‑winning music programs, and a student‑teacher ratio that beats federal guidelines create an academic atmosphere that draws families from across the Greater Boston area.

From weekly summer concerts on the green to the autumn Town Day festival and winter sledding at Belmont Hill School, the calendar is packed. Cultural groups host film nights, the public schools consistently rank among the state’s best for theater productions, and local merchants sponsor sidewalk sales.