Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

The Town of Arlington, Massachusetts was founded more than 375 years ago in 1635. The settlement was originally known as Menotomy, an Algonquin word. In 1807 the town was set off from Cambridge, Massachusetts and incorporated as West Cambridge. After the Civil War in 1867 the name was changed to Arlington in honor of the heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington played a major role in the first day of the American Revolution. On April 19, 1775 Minutemen from the surrounding towns gathered in Menotomy and ambushed the British as they fled the battle of Lexington and Concord. More than half of the casualties that day fell near the Foot of The Rocks, known today as the intersection of Lowell Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Arlington, MA was also the site of the first free public library in Massachusetts opened in 1837.  Once a thriving agriculture and mill town, today Arlington’s excellent access to Cambridge and greater Boston make it a very desirable place to live and buy real estate.

Home buyers in 2013 searching for homes for sale in Arlington, MA witnessed a face-paced real estate market. The median price of a single family home in Arlington in 2013 was $565,000, an increase from $521,000 in 2012. There were 273 single-family homes sold in 2013, and the most expensive sale was $1,550,000. The least expensive single-family home sold for $300,000. On average, homes in Arlington sold for 102 percent of the original list price. 

The median price of a condo was $375,000, up from $361,500 in 2012. There were 264 condominiums sold in 2013, and the most expensive was $814,000. The least expensive condo sold in Arlington was $122,000. On average, home buyers paid 101 percent of the original list price. 

Arlington’s public school system consistently earns high marks among Massachusetts’s schools. The system consists of 9 schools including 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 2 high schools. In addition, Arlington is in the district served by the Minuteman Regional High School. Located in Lexington, Minuteman is a well-respected vocational-technical school.

Arlington Recreation is a self-sustaining Department of the Town. It sponsors community events and offers safe affordable programs and facilities for citizens of all ages and abilities.  One of the most popular facilities is the Ed Burns Arena. Open from September thru March, it is a regulation size ice rink that is the home of the Arlington Hockey and Figure Skating Association as well as Arlington High School and the Arlington Catholic High School.  They also sponsor a full range of summer programs including swimming lessons at Reservoir Beach, voted by The Boston Globe as one of the top 10 swimming holes in the state.

For history and nature lovers, Arlington offers a multitude of historical sites and green spaces. Menotomy Rocks Park surrounds Hills Pond and offers miles of trails through the surrounding forested land. Robbins Library contains the oldest continuously operated free children’s library in the country. The Cyrus E Dallin Museum features the artwork of noted artist, sculptor and famous Arlington resident Cyrus E. Dallin. Arlington is also the home to several sites listed on the national Register of Historic Places including the Robbins Library and the Old Burying Ground located in the Arlington Center Historic District. The Uncle Sam Memorial Statue commemorates famous former resident Samuel Wilson believed to be the original Uncle Sam.  For gardeners, Arlington offers two Community Gardens open to all residents who submit an application.

Arlington’s strong sense of community, excellent public school system and public amenities make it a wonderful place to live, buy a home and raise a family.

 Photos by Doug Kerr via a Creative Commons license.