The Town FilesBelmont, Massachusetts
Community in Middlesex County · population 27,295 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,159,000
- Household income
- $183,137
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.9
Belmont is a community of 27,295 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $1,159,000, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better transit than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 98% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 97% of Massachusetts towns.
How Belmont 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 Belmont is worth $1,159,000, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $183,137, which is more affordable than 16% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,527 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belmont | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,159,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,527 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $183,137 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Belmont
| People | Belmont | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.2% | — |
| Work from home | 31.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Belmont
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.0 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belmont 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 8.1 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 42 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 Belmont itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Belmont
7 public schools with 4,424 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont High | 9-12 | 1,462 | 17.8 |
| Winthrop L Chenery Middle | 5-6 | 713 | 14.9 |
| Belmont Middle School | 7-8 | 666 | 14.5 |
| Roger E Wellington | PK-4 | 522 | 14.5 |
| Winn Brook | K-4 | 418 | 14.4 |
| Mary Lee Burbank | K-4 | 322 | 13.4 |
| Daniel Butler | K-4 | 321 | 11.9 |
Towns near Belmont
- Arlington, MA1.8 mi · 46,308 people · home $933,800
- Waltham, MA3.2 mi · 65,218 people · home $748,700
- Cambridge, MA3.4 mi · 118,403 people · home $1,092,100
- Somerville, MA4.1 mi · 81,045 people · home $911,300
- Medford, MA4.1 mi · 59,659 people · home $755,500
- Lexington, MA4.3 mi · 34,454 people · home $1,203,100
- Winchester, MA4.4 mi · 22,970 people · home $1,215,200
- Newton, MA4.6 mi · 88,923 people · home $1,264,900
Belmont questions
Is Belmont, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belmont scores better for retirees than 56% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 3%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Belmont?
The median owner-occupied home in Belmont is valued at $1,159,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $183,137, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $2,527 a month.
What is the weather like in Belmont?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 59.0 inches of snow.
Does Belmont get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belmont 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)