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City · 46,350 residents · Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Arlington , Massachusetts

In Arlington, a typical home is worth $933,800 and typical rent is $2,082 a month. Compared with all of Middlesex County, the typical home value is 28% higher and typical household income is 15% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $933,800

    28% above the county

    66% above Massachusetts

    • Arlington
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $2,082a month

    5% below the county

    18% above Massachusetts

    • Arlington
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $150,701a year

    15% above the county

    45% above Massachusetts

    • Arlington
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    62%

    About the same as the county

    1 points below Massachusetts

    • Arlington
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,057,808
2.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,925 a month
3.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Arlington is in Middlesex County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Middlesex County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Arlington apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Arlington has the 3rd smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 115 cities in Massachusetts with more than 5,000 people (35%).

  2. The typical home in Arlington is worth $933,800, 28% more than in Middlesex County as a whole ($727,800).

  3. Nearby, in Medford, the typical home value is $755,500: 19% less than in Arlington ($933,800).

  4. The typical household income in Arlington is $150,701, 15% more than in Middlesex County as a whole ($130,847).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Arlington

What homes there are in Arlington, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Arlington are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 38%, against 47% in Middlesex County.

Year built

In Arlington, half of the homes were built before 1945; in Middlesex County, before 1962.

Homes in Arlington are smaller: 51% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Middlesex County, 55%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

At least 87% of rented homes in Arlington cost less than $3,000, below HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($3,008).

With a mortgage

$3,831 a month

Middlesex County: $3,224 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,367 a month

Middlesex County: $1,211 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Middlesex County: 66%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Arlington is $3,831 a month, more than in Middlesex County ($3,224); without one, $1,367.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in Middlesex County, the typical home value in Arlington rose 45% since 2015–2019.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Arlington rose 20%, less than in Middlesex County (35%).

While home values in Arlington changed +45% and rent +20%, the typical household income rose 39%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureArlingtonMiddlesex CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.4%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.2%2.2%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.302.492.442.53
Drive alone 44%54%61%69%
Carpool 3%6%7%9%
Public transit 11%7%7%3%
Walk or bike 7%6%5%3%
Work from home 35%25%19%15%
Other means 1%2%2%2%
Typical commute 30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More than one person per room: that is how 1.2% of households in Arlington live, near the figure in Middlesex County (2.2%).

On average, a household in Arlington has 2.30 people, fewer than in Middlesex County (2.49).

In Arlington, 35% of workers work from home, more than in Middlesex County (25%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Arlington?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Arlington, worth $933,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 63% of the typical household income in Arlington, which is $150,701 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $341,362 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Middlesex County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Arlington. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $32,683 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$7,965

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$916,887
Total interest
$1,319,185
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $15,770 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,516 a month

  • Tight

    $3,516 to $4,521 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,521 a month

    Your payment · 63%

Compared with the typical household income in Arlington ($150,701 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,965
Principal & interest$6,211
Property tax$802
Home insurance$389
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$563

You need at least $32,683 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Arlington and Middlesex County

Arlington is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Arlington's own numbers

Typical home value
$933,800
Typical monthly rent
$2,082
Typical yearly household income
$150,701
Households that own their home
62%
Effective property tax rate
1.03%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Middlesex County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,383–$3,008
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+46%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Middlesex County.

Everything about Middlesex County

Buying

Buying a home in Arlington

A typical home in Arlington is worth $933,800: 28% above the county and 66% above Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Arlington ($150,701 a year), a typical home costs 6.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Arlington 6.2 years
  • Middlesex 5.6 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Middlesex County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Middlesex County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Middlesex County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +83% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Arlington next to Middlesex County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Arlington $933,800
  • Middlesex $727,800
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Arlington $2,082
  • Middlesex $2,201
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Arlington $150,701
  • Middlesex $130,847
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Arlington next to Middlesex County and Massachusetts
Measure Arlington Middlesex County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $933,800 $727,800 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,082 $2,201 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $150,701 $130,847 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 62% 61% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $9,604 $7,501 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.03% 1.03% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 35% 47% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Middlesex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Arlington

For a typical $933,800 home in Arlington, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Arlington's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $7,965a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $32,683
    Cash to close
    $60,697
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $563

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,644a month

    Down payment
    $46,690
    Cash to close
    $74,704
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $444

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,251a month

    Down payment
    $186,760
    Cash to close
    $214,774
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $7,115a month

    Down payment
    $140,070
    Cash to close
    $168,084
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Arlington and for Middlesex County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Arlington

1.03%of the home’s value each year

$9,604 a year for the typical owner in Arlington.

  • Arlington 1.03%
  • Middlesex 1.03%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Middlesex County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Middlesex County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
4,035
Of those, with NFIP insurance
54%
County Massachusetts U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 54% 50% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Arlington

Typical rent in Arlington is $2,082 a month: 5% below the county. In Arlington, 35% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Middlesex County; Arlington is in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,008 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $57.85 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,440 $46.92 $97,600
1 bedroom $2,518 $48.42 $100,720
2 bedrooms $3,008 $57.85 $120,320
3 bedrooms $3,584 $68.92 $143,360
4 bedrooms $3,953 $76.02 $158,120

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $2,383 to $3,008. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Middlesex County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people liveArlington is in this area
44 towns in this area

Acton town, Arlington town, Ashby town, Ashland town, Ayer town, Bedford town, Belmont town, Boxborough town, Burlington town, Cambridge city, Carlisle town, Concord town, Everett city, Framingham city, Holliston town, Hopkinton town, Hudson town, Lexington town, Lincoln town, Littleton town, Malden city, Marlborough city, Maynard town, Medford city, Melrose city, Natick town, Newton city, North Reading town, Reading town, Sherborn town, Shirley town, Somerville city, Stoneham town, Stow town, Sudbury town, Townsend town, Wakefield town, Waltham city, Watertown city, Wayland town, Weston town, Wilmington town, Winchester town, Woburn city

 $2,440$2,518$3,008$3,584$3,953$57.85
Lowell, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
10 towns in this area

Billerica town, Chelmsford town, Dracut town, Dunstable town, Groton town, Lowell city, Pepperell town, Tewksbury town, Tyngsborough town, Westford town

 $1,659$1,831$2,383$2,878$3,132$45.83

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Arlington

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Arlington has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,650 in 02476 to $3,220 in 02474.

  • 02474 $3,220$3,840
  • 02476 $2,650$3,180

A ZIP code counts for Arlington when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Arlington

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Arlington. These are the largest.

  • Millbrook Square Apts 17 Mill St, Arlington 02476 146 homes, 145 low-income · For older adults
  • Broadwal Homes 110 Broadway, Arlington 02474 11 low-income homes · For people with disabilities
  • TC Capitol Square 252 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington 32 homes · Studio: 6 · 1 bd: 17 · 2 bd: 9 · In service since 2013 · For families

See all 311 buildings in Middlesex County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Arlington

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 5 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Middlesex County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Arlington

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Arlington or Middlesex County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Arlington the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Arlington

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Arlington, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Somerville Community Corporation

    337 Somerville Ave, Somerville · 4 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole and Portuguese.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (617) 410-9905

  • Community Service Network, Inc.

    91 Summer St, Stoneham · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (781) 438-9254

  • American Consumer Credit Counseling

    130 Rumford Ave Ste 202, Auburndale · 6 miles away

    • Reverse mortgage counseling
    (800) 769-3571

Every agency in Middlesex County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near Arlington

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Arlington

HUD’s record names them for Arlington or Middlesex County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

34 other authorities have an office in Middlesex County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Middlesex County

These cities are also in Middlesex County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Middlesex County Housing in Massachusetts
See 14 more cities in Middlesex County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Arlington, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Middlesex County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Arlington.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Arlington

Short answers with the numbers for Arlington and all of Middlesex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Arlington?

The typical home value in Arlington is $933,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Middlesex County it is $727,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Arlington?

Typical rent in Arlington is $2,082 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Middlesex County is $2,383–$3,008.

What is the FHA loan limit in Arlington?

Arlington uses the FHA limit for all of Middlesex County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Arlington?

The typical homeowner in Arlington pays $9,604 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.03% of the home’s value; in Middlesex County, the rate is 1.03%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Arlington?

There are 5 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Middlesex County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).