City Report · MA

Boston

Pop. 666,442·12th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,271/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

+$1,339

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Boston · $3,271

More expensive than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

49/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Boston's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,271/mo

Expected by trend

$3,258/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,544

1 BR

$2,698

2 BR

$3,200

3 BR

$3,856

4 BR+

$4,244

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,200/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,271 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

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

November. Asking rents in Boston usually run 1.6% below trend in November and 1.2% above it in June, about $92 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Boston is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in Boston changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Boston rose 23% while median household income rose 36.9% ($71,115 to $97,344). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Boston is 28.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($97,344) is $2,434 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,544).

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 25 ZIP codes in Boston, 02210 ($4,455/mo), costs 1.6 times the cheapest, 02136 ($2,806/mo).

Cheaper nearby

Chelsea, 5 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,632/mo), about $7,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Boston. 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.

Annual cost

$39,252/yr

At $3,271/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Boston, MA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 54.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

666,442

Median income

$97,344

Median age

33.3

Renters

64.3%

Age distribution

15.1%

38%

23.4%

13%

Under 1815.1%

18–3438%

35–5423.4%

55–6410.4%

65+13%

Gender

48%

52%

Male48%

Female52%

Race & ethnicity

46.3%

20.5%

19.3%

White46.3%

Black20.5%

Hispanic19.3%

Asian10.4%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

18%

16%

54.9%

No HS diploma11.1%

HS diploma18%

Some college16%

Bachelor's+54.9%

Housing tenure

35.7%

64.3%

Owner35.7%

Renter64.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Boston, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,419 → $3,271

up 35.2%

Income

$81,744 → $97,344

up 19.1%

Population

672,814 → 666,442

down 0.9%

Renter share

65.2% → 64.3%

-0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

52.1% → 54.9%

+2.8 pts

Median age

32.6 → 33.3

+0.7 yrs

The median rent in Boston, MA stood at $2,419 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,271, reflecting a 35.2% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $97,344 today, compared with $81,744 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 54.9% of adults here, versus 52.1% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Boston

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View Boston rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Boston on your salary?

At $3,271/mo, how Boston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 35.8% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 50.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 43.8% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 24.5% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 19.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 53.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 59.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 48.4% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Boston rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Boston

About renting in Boston, MA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Boston is $3,271/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,544/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,200/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,698/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,856/mo.

At 40% of local median household income ($97,344/yr), Boston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Boston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $131,000/year (about $63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,271/mo in Boston. The local median household income is $97,344/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Boston?

Rent in Boston has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Boston?

Asking rents in Boston are usually lowest in November, about 1.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $92 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Boston?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Boston rose 23% while median household income rose 36.9%, from $71,115 to $97,344. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Boston neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Boston are 02136 ($2,806/mo), 02132 ($2,830/mo), and 02113 ($2,868/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $3,271/mo.

How does Boston rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Boston is one of the pricier among Massachusetts cities for rent, ranking #12 of 107 tracked cities at $3,271/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Boston changed +2.8%, against a typical +2.8% across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks.