Home / Home Buying by state / Massachusetts / Middlesex County / Arlington

Buying a home in Arlington, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in Arlington is worth about $933,800, 66% above the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 2.8 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $9,604 a year in property taxes, about 1.03% of their home's value, close to the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $150,701 a year, so the median home costs 6.2 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Arlington at a glance

Arlington Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $933,800 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $9,604 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.03% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $150,701 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 62% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 65% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,831 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.9% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $2,082 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.0% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1945 1964 1980
Vacant homes 3.6% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 46,350 7,044,056 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Arlington

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Arlington home of $933,800 with 20% down costs about $6,216 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,922, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $266,400 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 49% of the median Arlington household income of $150,701; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $528,000.

The median rent here is $2,082 a month, so owning the median home costs about $4,134 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$186,760
Loan amount$747,040
Principal and interest$5,025
Property taxes (1.03% a year)$802
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$389
PMI$0
Total per month$6,216

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$32,683
Loan amount$916,887
Principal and interest$6,168
Property taxes (1.03% a year)$802
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$389
FHA mortgage insurance$563
Total per month$7,922

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Arlington

What is the median home value in Arlington?

About $933,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Arlington?

Homeowners pay a median $9,604 a year, which is about 1.03% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Arlington?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $6,216 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $266,400 a year.

More about Arlington

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data