Compare towns
Arlington vs Everett vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Belmont has the most expensive homes ($1159k median).
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.
| Measure | Arlington | Everett | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350 |
50,045Highest |
27,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76 18% above MA |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604 60% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%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 |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±3.2 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Everett | Belmont |
| High school in town | Arlington High | Everett High | Belmont High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
12.1Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.