Compare towns
Arlington vs Somerville vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Somerville has the most renters (65.8% rent).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Somerville | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350 |
81,036Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Arlington 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% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
$132,572±$6kLowest 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Arlington and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76 18% above MA |
$2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604Highest 60% above MA |
$6,186Lowest 3% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
9.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6% MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington and Somerville 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 | #225 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Somerville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Arlington High | Somerville High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.