How much does it cost to rent in Belmont, MA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Belmont, MA is $3,223. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Belmont cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Belmont is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts, ranking #14 out of 112 cities tracked at $3,223/mo.

When was Belmont rent data last updated?

Belmont rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Belmont, MA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Belmont, MA at $3,220 per month, which is close to the $3,223 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · MA

Belmont

Name: Average Rent Prices in Belmont, MA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 27,175·14th most expensive in Massachusetts·Belmont rents are up 9.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,223/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.8%

vs US Median

+$1,261

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Belmont rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Belmont · $3,223

More expensive than 93% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

43/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Belmont's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$3,223/mo

Expected by trend

$3,112/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Belmont's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,570

1 BR

$2,720

2 BR

$3,220

3 BR

$3,880

4 BR+

$4,270

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,220/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,223 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$38,676/yr

At $3,223/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.4% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Belmont, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 80.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,175

Median income

$183,137

Median age

42.9

Renters

35.3%

Age distribution

24.2%

14%

29.8%

12.8%

19.3%

Under 1824.2%

18–3414%

35–5429.8%

55–6412.8%

65+19.3%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

69.3%

19.5%

White69.3%

Black1.6%

Hispanic4.9%

Asian19.5%

Other4.7%

Education (25+)

80.9%

No HS diploma2.3%

HS diploma7.5%

Some college9.3%

Bachelor's+80.9%

Housing tenure

64.7%

35.3%

Owner64.7%

Renter35.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How Belmont, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,522 → $3,223

up 27.8%

Income

$151,502 → $183,137

up 20.9%

Population

27,056 → 27,175

up 0.4%

Renter share

36.6% → 35.3%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

77.4% → 80.9%

+3.5 pts

Median age

41.5 → 42.9

+1.4 yrs

Rent in Belmont, MA has increased 27.8% since 2022, going from about $2,522 per month to roughly $3,223 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $151,502 in 2021 to $183,137 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 6.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 77.4% to 80.9%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Belmont, MA market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about Belmont

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View Belmont rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Belmont on your salary?

At $3,223/mo, how Belmont rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 35.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 49.7% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 43.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 24.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 18.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 53.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 58.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 47.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Belmont rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Belmont. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Belmont

About renting in Belmont, MA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Belmont is $3,223/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,570/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,220/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,720/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,880/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($183,137/yr), Belmont ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Belmont an affordable city for renters?

Belmont is considered very affordable for renters. At $3,223/mo, rent takes approximately 21% of the local median household income ($183,137/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Belmont falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Belmont?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $129,000/year (~$62/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,223/mo in Belmont. The local median household income is $183,137/yr, meaning the typical Belmont household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Belmont?

Rent in Belmont has increased 9.4% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Belmont rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Belmont is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts for rent, ranking #14 out of 112 tracked cities at $3,223/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Belmont?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Belmont ($3,223/mo): Arlington ($2,998/mo), Waltham ($3,045/mo), Watertown ($3,168/mo).

What percentage of Belmont residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 35.3% of Belmont households are renters, while 64.7% are owner-occupied. Belmont leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Belmont rent compare to the national average?

Belmont's median rent of $3,223/mo is $1,261 (64%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Massachusetts, it ranks #14 out of 112 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

21%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $3,223/mo, rent takes ~21% of Belmont's median household income ($183,137/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Belmont 21%Benchmark 30%

State income tax5%

Run the Belmont affordability calculator →

Nearby cities