Rents are 2% below what Belmont'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 $3,051 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
Rent in Belmont is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Belmont changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($183,137) is $4,578 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,270).
Chelsea, 8 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,632/mo), about $5,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Belmont. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Belmont, MA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Belmont, MA has increased 20.4% since 2022, going from about $2,534 per month to roughly $3,051 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $151,502 in 2021 to $183,137 more recently. 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.
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Can you afford rent in Belmont on your salary?
At $3,051/mo, how Belmont rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Belmont rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Belmont. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Belmont
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Belmont is $3,051/mo as of October 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 20% of local median household income ($183,137/yr), Belmont ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Belmont?
Is rent going up or down in Belmont?
How does Belmont rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $3,051/mo, rent takes ~20% of Belmont's median household income ($183,137/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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