Arlington, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Arlington Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
Arlington Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Arlington | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $151,416 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $112,436 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 39.1% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 37.8% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Arlington is about 45% higher than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Arlington (5.5%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 39% of adults in Arlington earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Arlington, Massachusetts grew by 82.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $151,416 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Arlington
| Metric | Arlington | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.450 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $125,665 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $111,322 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.4% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Arlington, it is 0.450, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Arlington, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $502,005 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Arlington, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 20% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,386 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Arlington | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 34.5% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 812 people are unemployed in Arlington, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Arlington is 31 minutes, longer than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Arlington, Massachusetts has fallen from 4.8% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.0% in 2013.
Arlington, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Arlington, MA is the 3rd largest of the 6 cities compared here, 46,270 residents against a local median of 35,594. Where Arlington, MA breaks from the cities next to it is unemployment, sitting 32% below the local median of 4.3% at 2.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $151,416 against a local median of $131,513, 15% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Arlington, MA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The cities themselves spread 1.9% on unemployment, so Arlington, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Arlington, MA has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, MA | 46,270 | $151,416 #3/6 | 5.5%/yr #4/6 | 2.9% #1/6 | 0.450 #1/6 |
| Belmont, MA | 27,165 | $187,422 | 6.6%/yr | 4.3% | 0.485 |
| Winchester, MA | 23,377 | $205,856 | 4.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.478 |
| Watertown, MA | 35,594 | $126,987 | 4.3%/yr | 5.3% | 0.466 |
| Medford, MA | 59,237 | $130,524 | 6.4%/yr | 4.3% | 0.507 |
| Cambridge, MA | 117,266 | $131,513 | 5.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Arlington, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it notably better than Massachusetts, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Arlington, Massachusetts.
How Wealthy Is Arlington, Massachusetts?
Arlington has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $151,416, about 45% higher than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
Are incomes growing in Arlington, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Arlington, Massachusetts rose 83%, from $82,920 to $151,416. Over the same years, income here outpaced Massachusetts as a whole: +83% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Arlington in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Arlington, Massachusetts was $141,762, up 4% from $136,156 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Arlington in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Arlington, Massachusetts was $115,181. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $151,416.
Do many residents of Arlington, Massachusetts earn over $100,000?
Yes. 39% of adults in Arlington, Massachusetts earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 21% (about 1 in 5) in Massachusetts. 38% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 22% in Massachusetts.
Is it hard to find a job in Arlington, Massachusetts?
Unemployment in Arlington, Massachusetts is only 2.9%, well below the Massachusetts rate of 5.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Arlington, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Arlington is 0.450. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Arlington, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Arlington, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 20% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,386 since 2009.
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