Arlington vs Medford
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $350k more for a 4BR in Arlington, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $350k for one tier of schooling.
Medford is about 18 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak, and it has MBTA rail while Arlington does not. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Medford works out roughly $5,500 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Arlington if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Arlington numbers →Choose Medford if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Medford numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsArlington ahead on 6 of 10
| Arlington | Medford | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 93rd | 41st |
| Student growth | 58th | 48th |
| Graduation rate | 96.8% | 90.9% |
| Niche district rank | 28th of 236 | 129th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 28th of 361 | 232nd of 361 |
| State accountability | Meeting or exceeding targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,549 | $23,377 |
| Schools in the district | 10 | 7 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 69 | 59 |
What a home costsMedford ahead on 4 of 6, 1 against
| Arlington | Medford | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.25MT3 | $900kT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $915k | $725k |
| 2BR condo | $675k | $535k |
| 3BR rent | $3,603/mo | $3,993/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $326k | $230k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.3% a year | 5.2% a year |
What you pay the townMedford ahead on 2 of 4
| Arlington | Medford | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $10.67T2 | $8.63T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$13,300 | ≈$7,800 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,627 | $3,444 |
| Share of budget on schools | 49% | 39% |
Getting to workMedford ahead on 3 of 3
| Arlington | Medford | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 34 minT2 | 16 minT1 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Rapid transit (T) · ~8 min to downtown |
| Miles from downtown | 7 mi | 5 mi |
Before kindergartenArlington ahead on 2 of 4
| Arlington | Medford | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 47 | 55 |
| Child care places | 2,656 | 1,260 |
| Centers vs family programs | 29 centers | 15 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 366 | 226 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Arlington | Medford | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,308 | 59,659 |
| Energy | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Compact center | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Family amenities | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Culture | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Gathering places | 9/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
