Compare towns
Somerville vs Arlington vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has the youngest population (median age 31.9).
Arlington has the most homeowners (61.6%).
Boston has the most affordable homes ($732k 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 | Somerville | Arlington | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 81,036 |
46,350Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
33.3±0.2 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,572±$6k 28% above MA |
$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$731,700±$10kLowest 30% above MA |
| Arlington and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,186 3% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1947Highest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.3%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest 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 | #225 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerville | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Somerville High | — | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| 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.