Rents are 11% below what Fall River'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 $1,888 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 Fall River usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in August, about $28 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Fall River is 0.1% below its high of $1,889 in August 2026, at $1,888 as of September 2026.
Rent in Fall River changed +2.4% 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 Fall River rose 66.2% while median household income rose 30.3% ($43,503 to $56,673). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Fall River is 66.9% 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 ($56,673) is $1,417 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,260); a 2-bedroom is $1,530.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Fall River, 02720 ($1,950/mo), costs 10% more than the cheapest, 02723 ($1,778/mo).
Central Falls, RI, 19 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,547/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fall River. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Fall River, MA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 16.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fall River, MA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Fall River, MA has increased 51.8% since 2021, going from about $1,244 per month to roughly $1,888 today. Household income in the area moved from $49,613 to $56,673 across the same window, up 14.2% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 37.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Fall River, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Fall River
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Fall River on your salary?
At $1,888/mo, how Fall River rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fall River rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fall River. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fall River
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Fall River is $1,888/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,170/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,850/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($56,673/yr), Fall River ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Fall River?
Is rent going up or down in Fall River?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Fall River?
Has rent outpaced income in Fall River?
Which Fall River neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Fall River rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fall River?
At $1,888/mo, rent takes ~40% of Fall River's median household income ($56,673/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Fall River.
No discussions yet.