These numbers tell us that the market in Arlington is very healthy. How do I know? Take a look at the absorption rates. Absorption rate is a way to look at the number of properties currently on the market and then using the number of recent sales, allows you to estimate how long it would take for every property currently on the market to sell if no new properties were allowed to go on the market. This figure helps you to see if the market is speeding up, slowing down or staying level. The city-wide absorption rate for Arlington has stayed level at about a 2 month figure. This is very low. There are many cities in Massachusetts with over 11 months of inventory on the market.

Arlington’s good school system, proximity to Boston and diverse, active community has allowed it to ride through the current market downturn without being affected as strongly as most other communities.