← Best suburbs near Boston

Arlington vs Arlington Heights

Two popular MA suburbs of Boston, side by side. Here's how they compare on the metrics that matter most to families.

School rating
9/10
9/10
Commute to Boston
39 min
40 min
Median home price
$1.0M
$820K
Annual property tax
$11K
$9K
Walk score
82
68
Density
urban
urban

Summary: It's a close match — both towns lead in 2 metrics each. The best choice depends on your family's priorities.

Character & vibe

Arlington

Massachusetts Avenue corridor suburb with outstanding schools. Minuteman Bikeway starts here, Menotomy Rocks Park, and a community deeply invested in its schools.

communitywalkable

Arlington Heights

The upper heights neighborhoods of Arlington with the Minuteman Bikeway and Russell Common. Arlington SD is excellent, Massachusetts Avenue is walkable, and this is one of the few towns where you can walk to Cambridge without getting on a train.

walkablecommunityartsy

Who should pick which?

Pick Arlington if you...

  • ·Want the shortest commute to Boston
  • ·Value walkability and a pedestrian-friendly downtown

Pick Arlington Heights if you...

  • ·Need to keep your home budget in check
  • ·Want lower annual property taxes

Still deciding?

Burbia scores both Arlington and Arlington Heights — and every other town in the Boston Area — based on your specific commute, budget, and priorities. Not a generic list.

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