What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most affordable homes ($934k median).

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Belmont
People
Population	46,350Highest	27,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Belmont and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belmont and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$150,701±$5kLowest 45% above MA	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Lowest 60% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±6.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belmont and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	64.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Arlington and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 282 in MA	#3 of 282 in MA
School district	Arlington	—
High school in town	Arlington High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.