What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Arlington has the most affordable homes ($934k 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.

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

Measure	Belmont	Arlington
People
Population	27,175Lowest	46,350Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% 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	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1.7Lowest 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+	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.3%±1.3Lowest 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+	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±0.8Lowest 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	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA	$150,701±$5kLowest 45% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,604Lowest 60% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.2Highest MA: 51.8%	35%±4.6Lowest 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	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34.5%±2.8Highest 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	#3 of 282 in MA	#29 of 282 in MA
School district	Belmont	Arlington
High school in town	Belmont High	Arlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.