Population 26,355 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Belmont
Household size in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.65 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Belmont average 2.61 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.52, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.3 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Belmont skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.2, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.1% of households in Belmont, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Belmont
Renters in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.1% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Belmont is about as common as it is nationally: 34.7% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the Boston area as a whole (38.4%). Among owners, 33.3% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.4 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Belmont than nationally: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1942 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1943 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1945 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1946 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Belmont is a place of older homes: half were built before 1946, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south has the oldest housing. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,468 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,563 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,994 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,468 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,000 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Belmont costs $2,468 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,000 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Belmont
Bachelor's degrees in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.9% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 71.1% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 80.9% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.1 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Belmont is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (80.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.1 points, in line with the national trend. Only 16 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.8% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.8% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.1% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.6% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Belmont: 97.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Belmont has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Massachusetts cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Belmont
| Period | Belmont | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Belmont than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national rate fell. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Belmont compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 2.61 | 44.3 | 7.1% | 34.7% | 5.9% | 1946 | $2,468 | 80.9% | 97.6% | 4.5% |
| Watertown | 2.47 | 43.4 | 12.3% | 49.8% | 3.6% | 1938 | $3,082 | 80.7% | 99.7% | 3.2% |
| Watertown Town | 2.17 | 40.8 | 5.7% | 52.3% | 5.9% | 1952 | $2,543 | 66.5% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Arlington | 2.41 | 42.6 | 5.2% | 38.4% | 5.6% | 1947 | $2,047 | 76.9% | 98.1% | 2.8% |
| Newtonville | 2.64 | 43.3 | 4.9% | 43.2% | 6.7% | 1943 | $2,603 | 80.4% | 98.3% | 3.5% |
| Newton | 2.55 | 40.8 | 7.8% | 38.3% | 6.7% | 1944 | $2,362 | 76.6% | 96.5% | 3.9% |
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| Waltham | 2.25 | 37.4 | 7.4% | 50.3% | 5.6% | 1964 | $2,231 | 58.5% | 92.6% | 3.9% |
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Somerville | 2.27 | 32.9 | 3.9% | 65.7% | 6.6% | 1945 | $2,529 | 70.5% | 93.3% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: York, SC · Amelia, OH · Yelm, WA · Belton, MO · Watertown, WI · Horn Lake, MS · Hatillo, PR · Hastings, MN · Murrells Inlet, SC · Macungie, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Belmont. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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