Arlington, MA Eviction Risk Score Suffolk County · Massachusetts · Population 46,350

Arlington, MA has an eviction risk score of 5.2 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Suffolk County and the state of Massachusetts. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 24.0% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Arlington is $2,082/month. About 38.4% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 5.4%, unemployment 3.2%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Suffolk County voted Democratic by 63.2 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.2/10, Arlington is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.

Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison

Landlord Guides & Research Tools

Deepen your market research with these ACS-data guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each ranking.

• Rent Control Cities 2026 — Full National List & Map
• Best Cities for Landlords 2026 — see where Arlington ranks nationally
• Most Rent-Burdened Cities in America — ACS 2023 leaderboard
• Massachusetts Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Massachusetts
• Suffolk County — compare every city in the county