Arlington, MA Real Estate Market: This Week's Numbers
Homes in Arlington are selling above asking price, and there isn't much to choose from.
Bob Wiltse, REALTOR®
Research & Writing Assistant: Claude.ai
October 22, 2026
If you're watching the Arlington, MA real estate market to buy, sell, or invest, this week's numbers point to one clear conclusion: sellers have the edge. Below are the data, what it means for you, and a couple of things happening around town that could affect your plans.
This week's numbers
These figures come from my MLSPIN reports for Arlington single-family homes, run October 21 to 22, 2026. The weekly activity covers October 15 to 21, 2026:
What it measures... | Arlington number... |
Total active homes on the market right now | 27 |
New listings (past 7 days) | 3 (median price $1,550,000) |
Median list price (active homes) | $1,199,000 ($551.08 per square foot) |
Median original list price | $1,249,000 ($561.55 per square foot) |
Average list price (active homes) | $1,453,788.52 ($579.20 per square foot) |
Median home size (active homes) | 2,182 square feet |
Time a listing stays on the market before selling (median days on market, active homes) | 30 days |
Time it took to get an offer, homes that sold this week (average days-to-offer) | 10 days |
Homes that sold this week | 4, averaging $1,448,125 |
How close the sale price came to the asking price, this week's sales (sale-to-list ratio) | 104% |
How much supply is on the market (months of supply) | About 1.5 to 1.6 months, a rough estimate (see below) |
Pending sales (new this week) | 6, median price $1,037,450 |
A quick note on a few of these: "days-to-offer" is how long it took a seller to get their first accepted offer. "Sale-to-list ratio" compares the final sale price to the asking price; 100% or higher means homes sold at or above asking price. "Months of supply" is how many months it would take to sell every home currently listed if no new ones came on the market and sales continued at the current pace. A low number, under about 4 to 5 months, usually means sellers have the advantage.
Market conditions: who has the edge right now
Several numbers point the same way this week. The four homes that sold got an offer in about 10 days on average, which is fast. Those homes sold for about 104% of their asking price, meaning buyers paid more than sellers originally asked.
With 27 homes currently active and 4 selling in one week, a rough months-of-supply estimate is about 1.5 to 1.6 months, well under the 4-to-5-month range that usually favors buyers. That's very low, and low supply almost always favors sellers.
One number points the other way a little: homes currently on the active market have a median time on market of 30 days (and an average of about 45 days), and 2 of the 27 active listings took a price cut this week, dropping an average of about 4%. That shows a few sellers had to adjust prices to attract buyers. But that's a small slice of the market compared to the strong signals above.
Conclusion: Arlington is a seller's market this week.
We have the total number of active homes for sale (27), several homes that closed this week to measure against, and multiple numbers (the sale-to-list ratio, the fast time to offer, and the low months of supply) all pointing in the same direction.
One thing that would make the next call more certain is a full month or more of closed sales, since this week's months-of-supply estimate is built from just 4 sales.
Arlington lands $2 million for housing and infrastructure.
Arlington was awarded about $2 million across six state grants in early October 2026 through the state's Community One Stop for Growth program, according to YourArlington and Patch. About $1.17 million will go toward Emma's Court, a 40-unit affordable housing project at 840 Massachusetts Avenue and 17 Newman Way, deed-restricted for households at or below 60% of the area's median income. Other awards include money for a water main upgrade, a downtown intersection project, and an update to the town's Housing Production Plan.
A debate over a Red Line extension could shape future growth.
Arlington has been pushing to repeal a 46-year-old state law that blocks the MBTA from extending the Red Line into town without specific legislative approval. Town Meeting approved a petition in May 2026 asking state lawmakers to lift the ban, and the town's state delegation has since filed a bill, according to State House News Service and NBC Boston. A repeal wouldn't guarantee a new transit line, but it would clear a legal hurdle the town says it needs as it adds more housing. For anyone investing in Arlington, better transit access down the road could be another factor supporting long-term demand.
What it means for buyers, sellers, and investors
Homes are getting offers quickly, and buyers are paying at or above asking price. If you're buying, expect competition and be ready to move fast with a strong offer, especially since only 27 homes are active. If you're investing, the combination of low supply, a steady flow of new affordable housing like Emma's Court, and the long-term push for better transit are worth tracking as signs of where demand could be headed next.
Thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Arlington? Reach out to Bob Wiltse, REALTOR®, eXp Realty. 978-793-1719 | bobwiltse.com
Sources
Bob Wiltse's MLS Listing Statistics (average figures), Arlington single-family homes, MLS Property Information Network, run October 21, 2026. (internal MLS data)
Bob Wiltse's MLS Listing Statistics (median figures), Arlington single-family homes, MLS Property Information Network, run October 22, 2026. (internal MLS data)
Bob Wiltse's Area Market Survey, Arlington single-family homes, MLS Property Information Network, October 15 to 21, 2026. (internal MLS data)
YourArlington, "Town receives $2 million in state grants," October 3, 2026. https://yourarlington.com/2026/10/town-receives-2-million-in-state-grants/
Patch, "Arlington Awarded $2 Million For Housing And Infrastructure Projects," October 5, 2026. https://patch.com/massachusetts/arlington/arlington-awarded-2-million-housing-infrastructure-projects
The Cool Down (reporting credited to State House News Service and NBC Boston), "Massachusetts town says it'll 'choke in traffic' unless a 46-year-old Red Line ban is repealed," October 3, 2026. https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/arlington-red-line-extension-traffic-growth/
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