What are the schools like in Arlington, MA?

Arlington is served primarily by Arlington. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Arlington?

The median household income in Arlington, MA is $136,312 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.6%.

What is the weather like in Arlington, MA?

Arlington has an average high temperature of 36.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 63.5 inches.

Arlington, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Arlington, MA affordable or expensive?

Arlington's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Arlington is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $839,200 and the median rent is $1,902 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Arlington, MA?

Arlington has a violent crime rate of 55.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 434.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Arlington, MA a Good Place to Live?

Arlington is a small city of 45,906 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $136,312 and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Arlington stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Arlington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Arlington city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Arlington's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Arlington costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Arlington, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$839,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,902	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$136,312	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Arlington's violent crime rate is 55.4 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

55.4 /100k

Property Crime

434.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Arlington is served primarily by Arlington. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Arlington, MA	National Avg
School District	Arlington	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	74.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Arlington sees average highs of 36.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 48.4 inches of annual precipitation and 63.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Arlington, MA
Average High — January	36.8°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	48.4"
Annual Snowfall	63.5"

Demographics

Metric	Arlington, MA	National Avg
Population	45,906	—
Median Age	40.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	18.9%
Asian	13.3%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	16.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Belmont, MA 2 mi Winchester, MA 3 mi Medford, MA 3 mi Watertown Town, MA 3 mi Cambridge, MA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Arlington

Arlington, MA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

02474 02476

Arlington vs Other Cities

Arlington, MA vs Belmont, MA Arlington, MA vs Winchester, MA Arlington, MA vs Medford, MA Arlington, MA vs Watertown Town, MA Arlington, MA vs Cambridge, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arlington, MA affordable or expensive?

Arlington's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Arlington roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $839,200 and median rent is $1,902/month.

What is the crime rate in Arlington, MA?

Arlington's violent crime rate is 55.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 434.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Arlington?

Public schools in Arlington are operated by Arlington. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 74.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Arlington, MA a good place to live?

Arlington, MA has a population of 45,906, a median household income of $136,312, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Arlington?

Arlington averages 36.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.4 inches with about 63.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Arlington?

Arlington, MA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 02474, 02476.

What is the population of Arlington?

The population of Arlington, Massachusetts is 45,906 with a median age of 40.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Arlington?

Key numbers for living in Arlington: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $839,200, median household income $136,312, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arlington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.