Arlington, MA vs Somerville, MA

Arlington is moderately more affordable than Somerville, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Arlington scores 173 compared to 187 for Somerville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Somerville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $2,043/month compared to $2,468/month in Somerville — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Arlington is more affordable at $885,000 median vs $899,400.

Median household income in Arlington is $141,440 compared to $127,056 in Somerville (+11.3%). Arlington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in Somerville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 51.9°F). Somerville receives more rainfall at 43.6" per year compared to 42.6" in Arlington.