Arlington

In just a short jaunt through Arlington Center, residents can go from a quaint residential block with a suburban tenor to a vibrant town thoroughfare with a city feel. Arlington Center offers a true blend of urban and suburban, says area Realtor Julie Gibson — it’s a coveted mix. The heartbeat of Arlington Center resides within the inner orbit around Massachusetts Avenue, the foremost artery through the area. Here residents can peruse “a lot of eclectic stores and different restaurants,” says Gibson, a Realtor with Julie Gibson Homes, who’s been selling properties in the area for over a decade. “Every sort of cuisine you would want is accessible and walkable.” The neighborhood’s outer orbit is populated by stately classic homes, many built in the early to mid-20th century. The Arlington Center area's homes have mainly colonial, Victorian or craftsman styling. Lots tend to be a bit larger than in surrounding areas, like Cambridge and Somerville, and these lawns are usually manicured with care. The residential corridors of Arlington Center are generally lined with both sidewalks and mature deciduous trees, too. There are mostly single-family homes in Arlington Center, but there are also some multifamily layouts that have been converted into condominiums, with two units apiece, Gibson says. Homes in the neighborhood sell for between $1.25 million to $1.75 million, and these homes tend to stay on the market for about two weeks. “If they’re priced and marketed right, they sell very quickly,” Gibson says. Arlington’s schools add to the area’s appeal, each earning an A grade from Niche. Gibson says that people love Arlington schools for their well-rounded focus — Arlington curricula fosters not just critical thinking development, but also the advancement of social-emotional and relationship skills. Kids may start at John A. Bishop Elementary School before transitioning to Ottoson Middle School. Arlington High School, in the middle of Arlington Center, recently underwent a $291 million rebuilding project, adding enhancements like larger classrooms, a larger gym and a 900-seat auditorium. Time pursuing one of the multiple parks around Arlington Center is another option. Spy Pond Park, named for its 100-acre Spy Pond, includes a boat ramp, playground and walking path. It’s also connected to the Minuteman Bikeway and abuts the Arlington Boys & Girls Club. The Boys & Girls Club sits between Spy Pond Park and Spy Pond Field, which contains a baseball diamond, tennis courts and a multipurpose field. Skyline Park, on the west side of Arlington Center, is popular, too, known in part for the scintillating views of Boston it offers. But when it comes to parks in Arlington Center, Menotomy Rocks Park is the big draw, Gibson says, featuring 35 acres of woodland area and the 3-acre Hills Pond filled with bass. Menotomy Rocks Park also has a playground and walking paths. The facility is filled with wildlife, including a parliament of owls. The high demand in Arlington Center isn’t much of a surprise considering what is available right at residents’ fingertips. Most of the dining options line Massachusetts Avenue. Among the places to choose from is Caffè Nero, a coffee spot that’s part of an award-winning area chain. Caffè Nero’s espresso is a popular pick, and patrons enjoy their pastries, too. Donut Villa is a new arrival next door to Caffè Nero, which opened in early 2023 and already seems to be doing well in terms of business, Gibson says. Donut Villa features much more than just doughnuts. It’s a full-fledged restaurant with cocktails, wine, beer, and a full complement of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, from Nutella and banana-stuffed French toast to jumbo crab cakes. Arlington Center is where one of the Town of Arlington’s major events takes place each September: Town Day. For Town Day, a portion of Massachusetts Avenue is closed, and neighbors come together to enjoy a variety of vendors and performers, before fireworks cap the day at dusk. Town Day is representative of what Gibson describes as Arlington’s welcoming nature. It’s a neighborhood that combines the comfort of a suburb with the accessibility and amenities of a municipality.

Those looking for a tranquil setting in the town of Arlington will find an apt match in Arlington Heights. The area offers a quieter, more heavily residential setting than its sister neighborhood to the east, Arlington Center. Arlington Heights is a part of town that people love, says area Realtor Julie Gibson, of Julie Gibson Homes. While commutes to the restaurants and other attractions in the core of Arlington, along Massachusetts Avenue, aren’t as easy from Arlington Heights as they are from Arlington Center, “the tradeoff is you get a nice yard, you get a little bit more square footage for your house,” Gibson says. “It definitely feels a little bit more suburban than urban,” Gibson says of Arlington Heights. Many of Arlington Heights’ residential corridors are organized in grid fashion, and most are lined with smooth sidewalks, enhancing walkability. Hilly blocks are flanked by deciduous trees, adding to the suburban ambiance. Colonials, cape cods and Victorians are a few of the predominant home styles in the neighborhood. Houses in Arlington Heights were mostly built across a timeline that encompasses the early-to-mid-20th-century, and they are primarily single-family layouts. Homes tend to stay on the market for about three weeks and typically sell for between $725,000 to $1.3 million. Arlington’s schools add to the area’s appeal, each earning an A grade from Niche. Kids may start at Brackett Elementary School before transitioning to Ottoson Middle School. Arlington High School, in the middle of Arlington Center, recently underwent a $291 million rebuilding project, adding enhancements like larger classrooms, a larger gym and a 900-seat auditorium. Hop on the 10-mile Minuteman Bikeway from Massachusetts Avenue for a ride through town. The scenic path, lined with lush greenery, connects to the Summer Street Complex, a neighborhood green space with athletic fields and what’s called Hill’s Hill, a multi-acre woodland area that is open for exploration. “A lot of people go there,” Gibson says. For more outdoor fun, head to Mount Gilboa, which comprises a 10-acre wooded expanse with a trail that leads to a peak from which residents can glean views of the town below. Skyline Park in the southeastern corner of the neighborhood — also known as Robbins Farm Park — is known for its views, too, of the Boston skyline. Arlington Heights may be a couple of miles away from the dense collection of eateries within Downtown Arlington, but it has its own dining landmark in the form of Jimmy’s Steer House, which sits on the portion of Massachusetts Avenue that runs through the neighborhood. Jimmy’s is a place that people seek out when they’re in Arlington — “Old-time staple, everyone loves it,” Gibson says. The Kansas City Prime Rib, slow-roasted for at least five hours, is a signature at Jimmy’s. One of the annual events in the Town of Arlington that spills over into Arlington Heights is Porchfest, in June. Porchfest is a musical bonanza wherein area homeowners can host musicians right on their front porches, creating an extended block party of sorts, with performances from midday to early evening. Porchfest is an example of the general fabric of Arlington, too — a pleasant DNA that Arlington Heights absorbs. “I think we just have this really welcoming vibe, where there’s a strong emphasis on celebrating diversity, celebrating individually,” Gibson says of the area.

Known for its pedestrian and cyclist-friendly streets and peaceful lifestyle, East Arlington has become a desirable suburban destination for those seeking proximity to Cambridge and Boston. With Massachusetts Avenue lining the neighborhood alongside lively restaurants and shops, top-rated public schools within walking distance and proximity to the commuter rail “T line,” East Arlington offers both convenience and accessibility. Adding to the bucolic landscape, the area is also surrounded by nature and wildlife, including various bodies of water, such as Spy Pond, comprehensive public parks and recreation centers, sprawling forests, reservation areas and numerous trails. “What’s been happening for years is the bike path came into town, and the zoning changed allowing restaurants with liquor licenses. People started realizing Arlington has things to do and easy access to Boston and Cambridge,” says Steve McKenna, a global real estate advisor and part of the Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty with 33 years of experience. “People who move here are looking for that urban yet suburban feel. They get a small yard and parking, but they’re not giving up access to the bike path, shopping or the T.”<br><br>With narrow roads and mature, leafy trees, many residences were built from the 1920s to the present day. New constructions are sprinkled throughout the neighborhood, and yard sizes are often between 5,000 and 7,000 square feet. The starting point for smaller single-family cottages, bungalows, traditional farmhouses and ranch styles is around $600,000. Home prices quickly climb close to $1 million for a 1,500-square-foot home, with larger Colonial Revivals fetch around $2 million. Condos and units in multiplex buildings range from $300,000 for a one-bedroom to over $1.2 million for a 2,000-square-foot duplex or triplex dwelling. Townhouses between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet may fetch around $950,000 to $1.7 million. <br><br>Spy Pond Park, which borders the neighborhood, is a waterfront green space with picnic tables, benches, a boat ramp, a walking path and a new playground. Residents can take in the peaceful views of the water and watch swans and ducks swim by. Although much of Spy Pond’s shorelines are private property, boating, fishing and ice skating in the winter are popular activities enjoyed by locals. Much of the park’s athletic fields are used by Arlington High’s athletic programs, and people can play tennis at the onsite courts. Nearby, people can also take a walk and spot wildlife at the sprawling Alewife Brook Reservation, or swim some laps at Dilboy Pool. Venturing further south, the Fresh Pond Reservation offers additional hiking trails, and residents can take their children to Magnolia Park or Danehy Park for playtime, sports or exercise. <br><br>Young scholars may attend Hardy Elementary School, which has an A Niche rating. Hardy was the first school in Arlington to be built south of Massachusetts Avenue, which allowed students to attend school without having to cross the main road. To this day, East Arlington students can still walk to school. Students may then continue to Gibbs School for sixth grade and Ottoson Middle School for seventh and eighth grades, each of which has an A-plus and an A score, respectively. Arlington High School rates an A and offers college-level courses, performing arts and athletic programs.<br><br>Various restaurants and shops are situated along Massachusetts Avenue, which locals call “Mass Ave” for short. Popular dine-out options include Menotomy Grill & Tavern, Town Tavern and Arlington Restaurant & Diner, all serving comfort food, gastropub fare and drinks. Residents may shop for groceries at nearby Stop & Shop, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s. Target is located in Porter Square Galleria in Cambridge, which is about 2 miles away. <br><br>Arlington has a slew of events throughout the calendar year, including a springtime festival called Spring in the Square and Feast of the East, which celebrates ethnic cuisine made by local eateries along with line dancing and raffle drawings. Promoting an awareness of multicultural expression, the Arlington International Film Festival screens independent documentaries and narrative features at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre. Arlington Open Studios is a local art event organized by the Arlington Center for the Arts to promote artworks by local artists. <br><br>“Commute time is very low,” says Doug Walters, a Realtor at Realty One Group with 10 years of experience who services the greater Boston area. “East Arlington is ideally situated in terms of having the balance of being close to the city while also just outside of the city.” Boston is about 8 miles away via Interstate 93, and commuters can also access the city through the Alewife “red line,” which is the rail service provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). Cambridge and Harvard Square are about 4 miles away, and cyclists can navigate the neighborhood with bike paths such as the Minuteman Bikeway, which runs through Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington and Bedford. “The bike path is one of the largest assets for the community,” McKenna says. Boston Logan International Airport is about 10 miles east, and Mount Auburn Hospital is approximately 4 miles south of East Arlington.