Rents are 3% below what Arlington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,925 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Arlington usually run 2% below trend in December and 1.7% above it in August, about $108 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Arlington is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.
Rent in Arlington changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Arlington rose 27.9% while median household income rose 39% ($108,389 to $150,701). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Arlington is 32.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($150,701) is $3,768 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,650).
Chelsea, 7 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,632/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Arlington. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Arlington, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 76.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Arlington, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Arlington, MA has climbed from $2,125 to $2,925, a 37.6% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $150,701 today, compared with $125,701 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 38.4% of households, compared with 40.4% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $2,925/mo, how Arlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Arlington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Arlington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Arlington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Arlington is $2,925/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,200/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,755/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,325/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,320/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($150,701/yr), Arlington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Arlington rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $2,925/mo, rent takes ~23% of Arlington's median household income ($150,701/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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