The Town FilesArlington, Massachusetts
Community in Middlesex County · population 46,308 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $933,800
- Household income
- $150,701
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.6
Arlington is a community of 46,308 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $933,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 99% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 98% of Massachusetts towns.
How Arlington ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arlington is worth $933,800, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $150,701, which is more affordable than 18% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,082 a month. 61.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arlington | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $933,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,082 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $150,701 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 61.6% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Arlington
| People | Arlington | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.1% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.6% | — |
| Work from home | 34.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Arlington
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arlington since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 22, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Arlington itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Arlington
11 public schools with 5,997 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington High | 9-12 | 1,609 | 13.2 |
| Ottoson Middle | 7-8 | 941 | 11.1 |
| Thompson | K-5 | 522 | 12.7 |
| Gibbs School | 6-6 | 468 | 12.3 |
| M Norcross Stratton | K-5 | 437 | 12.9 |
| Brackett | K-5 | 423 | 12.8 |
| Cyrus E Dallin | K-5 | 409 | 12.8 |
| John A Bishop | K-5 | 391 | 12.2 |
| Hardy | K-5 | 383 | 10.9 |
| Peirce | K-5 | 335 | 12.4 |
| Menotomy Preschool | PK-PK | 79 | 11.3 |
Towns near Arlington
- Belmont, MA1.8 mi · 27,295 people · home $1,159,000
- Winchester, MA2.6 mi · 22,970 people · home $1,215,200
- Medford, MA2.8 mi · 59,659 people · home $755,500
- Cambridge, MA3.7 mi · 118,403 people · home $1,092,100
- Somerville, MA3.8 mi · 81,045 people · home $911,300
- Lexington, MA3.8 mi · 34,454 people · home $1,203,100
- Waltham, MA4.5 mi · 65,218 people · home $748,700
- Woburn, MA4.9 mi · 40,876 people · home $673,500
Arlington questions
Is Arlington, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arlington scores better for retirees than 61% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 4%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Arlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Arlington is valued at $933,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $150,701, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $2,082 a month.
What is the weather like in Arlington?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Arlington get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)