How much rent can you afford in Chelmsford, MA?
Run your salary against Chelmsford's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Chelmsford
At a median rent of $2,680/mo, Chelmsford is moderately stretched when measured against Massachusetts median income of $99,858/yr. Rent would consume roughly 32% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $107,200 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
Based on Massachusetts median income. Chelmsford-specific income data isn't available yet, so state-level medians are used as a proxy.
How Chelmsford compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Chelmsford?
On a $99,858 salary (the Massachusetts median income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,496/mo. Chelmsford's median rent is $2,680/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Chelmsford?
To keep Chelmsford's $2,680/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $107,200/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Chelmsford affordable on the median Massachusetts income?
Chelmsford is moderately stretched on a $99,858 income. Rent would take 32% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".