Census-designated place · Massachusetts
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington, census-designated place, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Arlington had 46,350 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±40). GEOID 2501640.
Residents, 2020-2024
46,350
±40 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 46,308
Median household income
$150,701
±$4,963 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$933,800
±$23,081 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,082
±$76 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Arlington and what county is it in?
Arlington is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 5.1 square miles of land, 9,006 residents per square mile in 2020.
Arlington is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Arlington, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Arlington's population at 46,350 (±40). The 2020 Census counted 46,308 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Arlington is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Arlington | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 46,350 ±40 | 1,638,365 | +1,046 |
| Households | 20,005 ±474 | 634,215 | +940 |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.05 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 20,746 ±531 | 664,267 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Arlington?
The median resident of Arlington is 41.6 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.8%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 13.0%. 18.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Arlington | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 ±1.3 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.5% ±1.2 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3% ±1.2 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 47.4% ±1.4 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.9% ±1.2 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.8% ±2.3 pts | 65.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±0.7 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 13.0% ±1.7 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 18.6% ±1.8 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.0% ±2.1 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.8% ±0.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 8.6% ±1.1 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.0% ±0.5 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 76.1% ±1.9 pts | 59.5% | +5.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 46.5% ±2.5 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.1% ±2.2 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9% ±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Arlington earn?
Half of Arlington's 20,005 households earn less than $150,701 a year (±$4,963), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 the median was $133,394 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $17,307 after inflation. 5.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Arlington | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $150,701 ±$4,963 | $130,847 | +$17,307 |
| Mean household income | $211,725 ±$18,333 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $91,718 ±$7,969 | $69,556 | +$19,017 |
| People below the poverty line | 5.4% ±1.3 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.3% ±1.5 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.0% ±1.4 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.7% ±1.2 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.6% ±1.3 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Arlington?
Owners occupy 61.6% of Arlington's occupied homes and renters 38.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $933,800 by its owner (±$23,081). The median renter pays $2,082 a month including utilities, and 23.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Arlington | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $933,800 ±$23,081 | $727,800 | +$143,448 |
| Median gross rent | $2,082 ±$76 | $2,201 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 23.9% ±3.4 pts | 37.6% | −6.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,831 ±$141 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.6% ±2.3 pts | 61.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.4% ±2.3 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 20,746 ±531 | 664,267 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% ±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.3% ±1.6 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 37.9% ±2.0 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.7% ±1.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 47.1% ±2.3 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.4% ±1.5 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Arlington work and get to work?
43.5% of Arlington's workers drive alone and 34.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.9%.
| Measure | Arlington | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 74.2% ±1.9 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% ±0.7 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 43.5% ±2.7 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.0% ±1.0 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 11.1% ±1.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±0.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 34.5% ±2.6 pts | 24.7% | +27.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.2 min ±1.3 | 29.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Arlington?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Arlington (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $121,194 (Tract 3563) to $203,000 (Tract 3564).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3564Middlesex County | 7,615 | $203,000 |
| Tract 3565Middlesex County | 7,214 | $149,844 |
| Tract 3567.01Middlesex County | 6,450 | $148,363 |
| Tract 3563Middlesex County | 5,629 | $121,194 |
| Tract 3566.02Middlesex County | 4,530 | $181,117 |
| Tract 3566.01Middlesex County | 4,103 | $148,506 |
| Tract 3567.04Middlesex County | 4,007 | $164,453 |
| Tract 3561Middlesex County | 3,551 | $161,860 |
| Tract 3567.03Middlesex County | 3,251 | $138,816 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Arlington) · Census block assignment files
How does Arlington compare with other places in Massachusetts?
Arlington ranks 81st of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 29th | 460 |
| Residents per square mile | 12th | 461 |
| Median household income | 81st | 453 |
| Per capita income | 41st | 460 |
| Median home value | 39th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 69th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 213th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34th | 459 |
| Median age | 348th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 392nd | 460 |
| Work from home | 19th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 150th | 459 |
Arlington's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Arlington with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Arlington?
5 of the 57 figures for Arlington on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Arlington are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.