Belmont, MA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Belmont

Belmont is a midsize district in eastern Massachusetts that serves students from preschool through twelfth grade. Its student body has a notably high concentration of Asian and white students, with a smaller but present share of students who identify as Black, Hispanic, or two or more races. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a family looking to understand the district’s socioeconomic and learning-support profile should check with the district directly for those numbers.

Academically, Belmont posts strong results in a statewide context. In state assessments taken by students in grades three through eight, overall proficiency rates in reading, math, science, and social studies all register a high level of performance. When compared with other districts in Middlesex County, which includes a wide range of communities from Boston suburbs to exurban towns, Belmont’s combined proficiency index sits within the top quartile. That is a strong showing by any standard and reflects a student body that, on average, is meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations at a high clip.

Attendance patterns at the district are favorable. Its chronic absenteeism rate falls slightly above the midpoint for Middlesex County, meaning a moderate share of students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent, but the rate is not alarmingly high. A parent may want to ask the district about specific attendance support programs, but the overall picture is not a red flag.

On the financial side, Belmont’s per-pupil current spending is in the lower range among Middlesex County districts. That may reflect the district’s relative efficiency or a lower level of expenditure compared with wealthier neighbors, but it is worth noting that the district achieves its strong academic results without the highest spending in the region.

Housing in Belmont is expensive. The weighted home value across the district’s ZIP codes is well above both the national and state benchmarks, and typical rents are high relative to typical rental incomes. The housing market in Middlesex County overall is quite competitive, with homes receiving multiple offers and listing prices above the national median. For a family moving to the area, buying or renting in Belmont requires a high budget; the affordability gap is significant.

The district brief indicates that a search for recent district-level changes or strategic priorities turned up little of lasting impact, so there are no major recent initiatives or controversies to report. The district’s academic reputation stands on its own.

In sum, Belmont is a well-performing suburban district that delivers high levels of academic proficiency across tested subjects, with a student body that leans predominantly white and Asian. Its spending is moderate relative to its county peers, and its attendance is reasonable. The primary barrier for many families will be the cost of housing in the district, which is elevated. For a family that can afford the market, the academic pathway is clearly a strong one.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,424

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 4%

White 58%

Asian 24%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

37%

76%

Gr 4

33%

72%

Gr 5

22%

63%

Gr 6

31%

74%

Gr 7

40%

75%

Gr 8

32%

82%

Gr 38

32%

74%

Math

Gr 3

38%

80%

Gr 4

33%

69%

Gr 5

22%

73%

Gr 6

26%

74%

Gr 7

45%

76%

Gr 8

41%

83%

Gr 38

34%

76%

Science

Gr 5

33%

81%

Gr 8

41%

86%

Gr 38

36%

84%

Social studies

Gr 8

35%

86%

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Winthrop L Chenery Middle

Belmont Middle School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

71%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

69%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

78%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

81%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$1.48M

Year-over-year change+0.6%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$843K to $1.5M

vs. state typical2.24x

vs. national typical4.02x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
02478	Belmont	$1.5M	+0.6%	99.9%
02472	Watertown	$843K	+1.6%	0.1%
02138	Cambridge	$1.2M	-0.9%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,096/mo

Year-over-year change+5.6%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$2,990 to $3,367/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
02478	Belmont	$3,096	+5.6%	99.9%
02472	Watertown	$2,990	+2.3%	0.1%
02138	Cambridge	$3,367	+1.9%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$7,472/mo

Home price / national median income17.7x

Annual rent / national median income44.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$4,375/mo

Market Activity: Middlesex County

Median listing price$925,000

Median listing price YoY-6.5%

Median price per sq ft$488

Median price per sq ft YoY-1.2%

Median days on market23.0 days

Median days on market YoY+17.9%

Active listings2,034

Active listings YoY+12.6%

New listings2,224

New listings YoY+3.5%

Pending listings2,420

Pending listings YoY+547.1%

Hotness: median listing price$899,900

Hotness: median listing price YoY-9.3%

Supply score98.8

Supply score YoY-0.7%

Demand score75.6

Demand score YoY-2.5%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$661,755 (+1.5% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.