Selling in Arlington, Middlesex County
Selling your house in Arlington, MA? See what you’d walk away with.
Compare a cash offer with listing with an agent in Arlington: price, fees and timing. Free, takes about a minute, no obligation.
We are not a real estate broker or agent. We connect you with independent local buyers and agents who may pay us a fee. No obligation.
- Melrose homesMay 2026median sale $877,500 · 81% sold over asking · 11 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Malden homesMay 2026median sale $800,000 · 73% sold over asking · 20 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Medford homesMay 2026median sale $850,000 · 46% sold over asking · 20 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Stoneham homesMay 2026median sale $817,500 · 86% sold over asking · 18 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Wakefield homesMay 2026median sale $880,000 · 76% sold over asking · 17 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Saugus homesMay 2026median sale $635,000 · 81% sold over asking · 17 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Lynn homesMay 2026median sale $610,000 · 64% sold over asking · 23 days on marketSource: Redfin
- Peabody homesMay 2026median sale $673,000 · 63% sold over asking · 21 days on marketSource: Redfin
At a glance
Selling in Arlington.
Arlington has one of the larger stocks of two- and three-family houses in this part of the state, along with older single-family houses and condos. Arlington will not issue a final water and sewer bill for a lease-back or use-and-occupancy deal between buyer and seller, and it needs your request at least 7 business days before closing.
Full details for Arlington ↓What homes are selling for in Arlington.
May 2026Arlington, all home types · 49 homes soldSource: Redfin
Town-level public statistics, never one house, and not a value for your home. Per-home sales (listed price to sold price) are coming through a partner agent's MLS feed.
Cash offer vs listing in Arlington, side by side.
Type your address and pick the town. We start from the typical house there and use the same math as the calculator. Change the price to your own guess.
Example: the typical single-family house in Arlington. Enter your address to see yours.
List with an agent
Sale price $1,195,000
- Agent fee −$62,738
- Repairs and prep −$12,000
- Closing and carrying −$15,949
You keep ~$1,104,000
Sell for cash, as-is
Cash offer $932,100
- Cash buyer's discount −$262,900
- No agent fee, no repairs, no staging
- Closing −$4,250
You keep ~$928,000
Listing keeps about $176,000 more on paper, and takes about 2 months longer. Cash is faster and skips the repairs.
Estimate only, not an offer. Starting price: the typical single-family home in Arlington (August 2026, Zillow Group Data). Assumes a 78% cash offer, 5.25% commission, $12,000 prep, 3 months of carrying costs at $3,500, before any mortgage payoff. Your house is not the typical house. Sources
Local guide
Selling a house in Arlington.
Arlington is outside our eight focus towns. You can still ask for numbers, and we will tell you honestly if we cannot find a local buyer or agent.
Arlington has far more two-family homes than any other town on these pages. Of about 20,750 homes, roughly 24% (4,957) are in two-unit buildings, another 6% (1,151) are in buildings of three or four units, and about 38% (7,856) are detached single-family houses. Condos and apartments in buildings of five or more units add another 5,170 homes, about 25%. Housing counts are American Community Survey estimates for 2020 to 2024, so they carry a margin of error. About 62% of homes are owner-occupied.
The housing is old: about 47% of homes were built before 1940, 39% between 1940 and 1979, and only about 14% in 1980 or later. The estimated median value of an owner-occupied home is $933,800 (Census estimate, not a sale price). The 2020 Census counted 46,308 residents and 20,461 housing units in about 5.5 square miles. A two-family sale raises questions about tenants and shared utilities that a single-family sale does not, so settle those before listing.
Arlington taxes all property at a single rate: $10.67 per $1,000 for FY2026 for residential and commercial alike. The town's FY2026 classification booklet shows residential property is about 94.8% of its taxable value ($15.22 billion of $16.06 billion). Look up your assessed value on the town's database before you set a price.
The Arlington market
Arlington is large enough that Redfin shows a double-digit number of sales every month, but the all-homes median hides a big gap between house types. In May 2026 the all-homes median sale price was $1,099,000 on 49 sales, while single-family homes alone had a median of $1,228,555 on 19 sales. Zillow's typical Arlington value in August 2026 was $1,071,128 for all homes (up 2.9% in a year), $1,194,400 for single-family (up 3.1%) and $709,451 for condos (up 0.5%) (Zillow Group Data).
| Month and type | Sales | Median sale price | Sold over list | Median days on market | Average sale vs list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026, all types | 25 | $1,150,000 | 52% | 16 | 103.5% |
| April 2026, all types | 37 | $1,229,000 | 62% | 16 | 104.9% |
| May 2026, all types | 49 | $1,099,000 | 53% | 15 | 105.5% |
| March 2026, single-family | 12 | $1,727,500 | 50% | 18 | 104.9% |
| April 2026, single-family | 18 | $1,387,500 | 89% | 14 | 108.3% |
| May 2026, single-family | 19 | $1,228,555 | 74% | 13 | 109.3% |
For a seller, the single-family rows are the stronger signal for a house: in April 89% sold over list, and in May the average single-family sale was about 109% of list. Those are Redfin's single-family figures on only 12 to 19 sales a month, so one expensive sale moves the median a lot (the median fell from $1,727,500 in March to $1,228,555 in May while the over-list share stayed high). Redfin's all-types rows do not separate two-family houses, so ask an agent for recent two-family sales if that is what you own.
Arlington housing mix, in numbers
| Building type | Homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Detached one-family | 7,856 | 38% |
| Attached one-family (townhouses, duplex-style) | 1,532 | 7% |
| Two units | 4,957 | 24% |
| Three or four units | 1,151 | 6% |
| Five or more units | 5,170 | 25% |
Zoning changes of the 2020s
Arlington applied to the state in November 2023 (revised December 2023) for approval of two multi-family zoning districts, the "Mass Ave/Broadway Multifamily District" and the "Neighborhood Multifamily District." The state housing office found Arlington compliant with the MBTA Communities law in a letter dated February 12, 2024. The districts cover 115.5 acres, with estimated as-of-right capacity of 3,120 units at about 27.2 units per acre, against a required minimum of 2,046 units and 32 acres (Mass.gov letters). We did not review the bylaw text, so we cannot say what any particular lot may build. Ask the town's planning department or an attorney if you are selling a lot that could be redeveloped.
Selling a two- or three-family
If the house has tenants, our guide to selling a multi-family house covers notice, deposits and leases, and the sell or rent calculator can help you compare keeping it. The town's smoke inspection fee rises with the number of units (see above).
Arlington checklist
Who to call, and in what order.
Checked 2026-10-07. Town procedures change, so confirm on the linked page.
- Residential tax rate, FY2026$10.67 per $1,000 of assessed value. Town of Arlington Assessor: FY 2026 residential and commercial tax rate is $10.67
- Assessor (value and property record card)Arlington Assessor (Patriot Properties database). The search shows the owner of record as of January 1 of the fiscal year, the value and the last sale date. The Assessor is at 730 Massachusetts Avenue, 781-316-3050; the page also hosts a Sales Verification Questionnaire for recent sales and says the office is inspecting properties with recent building permits.
- Registry of DeedsMiddlesex South Registry of Deeds. The state lists Arlington in the Middlesex South district, at 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, 617-679-6300. Your closing attorney normally handles recording.
- Smoke and CO certificateArlington Fire Department: Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors. For 1- and 2-family homes and condos, book through the online scheduler on the town page. For three families or larger, or renovation and new construction, contact Deputy Chief Ryan Melly at 781-316-3803. The town's fee page says home-sale inspections run Monday to Friday 1 to 4 pm and lists $50 for a 1-family, $80 for a 2-family, $100 for 3 to 5 families and $200 for 6 and above; that schedule is labeled as of June 23, 2016, so confirm the current fee.
- Sewer or septicArlington's Treasurer/Collector bills water and sewer together, and the Water and Sewer Division at 51 Grove Street issues the final water and sewer bill (Treasurer/Collector page). We did not find a town page about septic areas in Arlington. If your property has a septic system, Title 5 requires an approved inspection within 2 years before a sale (Mass.gov).
- Municipal lien certificate and water billMunicipal lien certificate: send the Treasurer's request form, $50 and a stamped return envelope to the Office of the Treasurer & Collector of Taxes, P.O. Box 210, 730 Massachusetts Avenue (town form). Final water and sewer bill: email the town's Final Water/Sewer Bill Request Form with the meter reading and a photo of the meter to [email protected] at least 7 business days before you need it for closing; the processing fee is $15. Final bills are generated only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the town does not issue bills for lease-back or use-and-occupancy agreements between buyer and seller (town policy form).
Sources for Arlington
- Wikipedia: Arlington, Massachusetts (2020 Census figures)
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Arlington (housing units by structure type, tenure, year built), via Census Reporter
- Redfin Data Center, city market tracker (monthly, not seasonally adjusted)
- Zillow Home Value Index (Zillow Group Data), city level, as of Aug. 2026
- Arlington Assessor
- Arlington Patriot Properties database
- Arlington FY2026 tax classification booklet
- Arlington Fire Prevention: Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Arlington Fire Prevention: License & Permit Fees
- Arlington Treasurer/Collector
- Arlington Municipal Lien Certificate request form
- Arlington Final Water/Sewer Bill policy and request form
- Middlesex South Registry of Deeds
- Secretary of the Commonwealth: Find a Registry of Deeds office by town
- Secretary of the Commonwealth: Registry of Deeds district offices
- Mass.gov: Buying or selling property with a septic system
- Mass.gov EOHLC: MBTA Communities district compliance letters (as of Aug. 27, 2026)
Cash buyer or agent
Cash offer or agent in Arlington?
A cash buyer (the “we buy houses” companies and local investors) usually pays less than a listing brings but closes in weeks and takes the house as it is. An agent usually gets the higher price but takes months and some prep. At $1,195,000 (the Zillow typical Arlington single-family value, August 2026), our default assumptions leave about $1,104,313 after listing costs and about $927,850 from a 78% cash offer. Your house is not typical, so run your own numbers, or read how cash home buyers work in Massachusetts.
Full details
Everything we can source for Arlington.
Where we could not find a reliable number, we say so.
Housing and what it means when you sell
Arlington has one of the larger stocks of two- and three-family houses in this part of the state, along with older single-family houses and condos. Many of the houses date from before 1940.
For context, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue reports a statewide average single-family assessed value of $742,986 and average single-family tax bill of $8,113 for FY2026 (346 reporting communities as of February 2026). Assessed value is not sale price. Source.
For a real recent-sales picture, ask a local agent for a comparable-sales report from MLS PIN. We do not publish an estimate of any individual home's value.
Local logistics
Arlington will not issue a final water and sewer bill for a lease-back or use-and-occupancy deal between buyer and seller, and it needs your request at least 7 business days before closing. Plan that early if you want to stay after the sale.
Massachusetts also requires a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate from the local fire department at sale, and a lead paint notification for homes built before 1978.
Your options in Arlington
- Sell for cash, as-is. Faster and simpler, usually for less than a listing would bring. See the honest math.
- List with a local agent. Usually the highest price if the house is in decent shape and you can wait.
- Getting the house ready. JUNKRUN's estate cleanout serves this area. JUNKRUN is owned by the same people as Home Options MA. If you choose a cleanout, we may earn money from it. No obligation to use it.
Not sure which fits? Start with your situation.
Sources
- 2020 Census figures as summarized on Wikipedia: Arlington, Massachusetts
- Mass.gov EOHLC: MBTA Communities district compliance letters (as of Aug. 27, 2026)
- Arlington Assessor (FY2026 tax rate and property data link)
- Mass.gov DOR: FY2026 statewide average single-family tax bill. Statewide average, not a Arlington figure.
Questions
Arlington questions.
How much is the smoke and CO certificate in Arlington for a two-family?
The Fire Prevention fee table lists $80 for a 2-family dwelling, $50 for a 1-family, $100 for 3 to 5 families and $200 for 6 or more, but that schedule is labeled "as of June 23, 2016," so confirm the current amount. Home-sale inspections are Monday to Friday 1 to 4 pm. Book 1- and 2-family homes through the online scheduler; for 3-family and larger, contact Deputy Chief Ryan Melly at 781-316-3803.
Can I stay in my Arlington house for a few weeks after closing?
You can arrange that with the buyer, but the town says its Water and Sewer Division does not issue final bills for lease-back or use-and-occupancy agreements between the seller and buyer, and that this has no exceptions. Ask your attorney how the water and sewer account will be handled during any rent-back.
How early do I request the final water and sewer bill in Arlington?
At least 7 business days before you need it for closing. Email the town form with the final meter reading and a photo of the meter to the DPW. Requests after 12 noon count as received the next business day, and final bills are generated only Tuesday through Thursday. The fee is $15, and a rescheduled closing needs a new request and a new fee.
Does Arlington have one tax rate or two?
One. The town's FY2026 rate is $10.67 per $1,000 for residential and commercial property, as the Assessor's page lists a single rate for both. Residential property makes up about 94.8% of the town's taxable value in the FY2026 classification booklet. Your tax is your assessed value divided by 1,000 times $10.67, less exemptions.
Will a Redfin median tell me what my two-family is worth?
No. Redfin's all-types median blends condos, single-family and multi-family sales, and the single-family median in May 2026 ($1,228,555 on 19 sales) was well above the all-types median ($1,099,000 on 49 sales). Ask an agent for recent two-family sales near you, or use our net proceeds calculator with your own price.
Useful next
- What it costs to sell a house in MassachusettsCosts, taxes and net proceeds
- Massachusetts deed excise tax (tax stamps): rate, who pays, examplesCosts, taxes and net proceeds
- Smoke and CO certificate of compliance when you sell in MassachusettsMassachusetts rules and paperwork
- Seller net proceeds calculator for MassachusettsCalculators
- Selling in a hard situationSituations
- Drone photography north of BostonDrone
Selling? Add drone photos
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We are not a real estate broker or agent. We connect you with independent local buyers and agents who may pay us a fee. No obligation.