At $1,663/mo, rent takes about 37% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,663 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 Holyoke changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($53,605) is $1,340 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,120); a 2-bedroom is $1,390.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Holyoke. 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
Holyoke, MA is majority renter-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 25.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Holyoke, MA has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in Holyoke, MA now reports about $53,605, up from $45,045 in 2021. The population has contracted by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 38,480 residents to roughly 37,813. Renters now make up 58.7% of households, compared with 60.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 25.9% of adults here, versus 22% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Holyoke on your salary?
At $1,663/mo, how Holyoke rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Holyoke rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Holyoke. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Holyoke
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Holyoke is $1,663/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $970/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,690/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($53,605/yr), Holyoke ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Holyoke?
Is rent going up or down in Holyoke?
How does Holyoke rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $1,663/mo, rent takes ~37% of Holyoke's median household income ($53,605/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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