Compare towns
Belmont vs Sutton vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Belmont | Sutton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,175 |
9,452Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Belmont 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Belmont and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$9,604 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Belmont 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belmont | Sutton | Arlington |
| High school in town | Belmont High | Sutton High School | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.6Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.