Commercial Real Estate Market in Arlington, MA
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
60 active listings and 465 off-market properties in Arlington, MA. Commercial property asks $509/SF to buy and $33.18/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Arlington, MA spans 5.1 square miles in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Arlington, MA runs 19.9% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 13.1% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Arlington, MA runs 6% across the Northeast region in 2025, little changed from 6% in 2019. Down from a 2020 peak of 7.1%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Arlington, MA runs 7.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 5.4% in 2019. Nearly 2.4x the 2021 low of 3.2%.
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Multifamily
Multifamily space in Arlington, MA asks $318/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 5.6% across the Northeast region in 2025, up from 4% in 2022.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in Northeast region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 84.2%
- Open space 8.3%
- Commercial 4.1%
- Industrial 1.5%
- Mixed use 1.4%
- Planned_development 0.5%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Single Family Residential
Two Family Residential
Open Space
Large Lot Single Family Residential
Apartments Low Density Residential
Arlington, MA zones 3,286 acres across 18 districts. Commercial zoning covers 4.1% of zoned land, residential 84.2%, open space 8.3% and industrial 1.5%. The largest single district is Single Family Residential at 54.1%. For commercial buyers the practical constraint is that only 5.6% of land carries a commercial or industrial designation.
Single Family Residential (R1)
The predominant uses in R1 are single family dwellings and public land and buildings. The Town discourages intensive land uses, uses that would detract from the single family residential character of these neighborhoods, and uses that would otherwise interfere with the intent of this Bylaw.
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Arlington, MA has 46,308 residents in 20,599 households. Density runs 9,004 people per square mile. Median household income here is $141,481 and median gross rent $2,029 a month.
46,308
Population
20,599
Households
2.2
Avg Household Size
42
Median Age
74%
College-Educated
98%
High-School Grad
5.1 sq mi
ZIP Area
9,004
Density / Sq Mi
$141,481
Median Household Income
$84,755
Median Earnings
$2,029
Median Rent
$885,121
Median Home Value
Tools
Lease vs Buy Breakeven
At $33.18/SF/Yr lease vs $509/SF buy → buying wins if held > 4 years.
At a 6.5% gross asking yield the payback reads short relative to leasing. Assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% a year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost, 2% closing plus 5% selling costs, and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Watertown | — | $31.50 |
| Belmont | — | $39.89 |
| Medford | — | $22.82 |
| Winchester | — | — |
Commercial property in Arlington, MA asks $509/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Arlington?
Commercial property in Arlington, MA asks an average of $509 per square foot. The 7 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $463/SF, so asking sits 10% above the achieved median. Multifamily carries the highest asking price at $318/SF.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Arlington?
Asking lease rates in Arlington, MA average $33.18 per square foot per year.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy commercial space in Arlington?
Buying beats leasing in Arlington, MA if the property is held longer than 4.0 years, comparing $33.18/SF/Yr asking rent with $509/SF asking price. The model assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% of value per year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost on the cash and a 3% annual rent escalator.
What zoning applies to commercial property in Arlington?
Arlington, MA zones 3,286 acres across 18 districts, of which 4.1% is commercial and 1.5% industrial. The largest single district is Single Family Residential at 54.1% of zoned land. The predominant uses in R1 are single family dwellings and public land and buildings. The Town discourages intensive land uses, uses that would detract from the single family residential character of these neighborhoods, and uses that would otherwise interfere with the intent of this Bylaw. Residential zoning covers 84.2% and open space 8.3%.
Where does Realmo's Arlington market data come from?
Realmo compiles Arlington, MA figures from 7 recent recorded sales, 34 active sale listings, 26 active lease listings, 465 tracked off-market properties, the current Arlington zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 34 active for-sale and 26 active for-lease listings in Arlington, MA. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 3,286 zoned acres across 18 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Northeast region level, retail vacancy is reported at Northeast region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Northeast region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
