Rents are 6% below what Lowell'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 $2,252 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 Lowell usually run 1.5% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in July, about $61 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Lowell is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2016.
Rent in Lowell changed +1.9% 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 Lowell rose 38.8% while median household income rose 38.3% ($56,878 to $78,658). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lowell is 44.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,658) is $1,966 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,565); a 2-bedroom is $2,055.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Lowell, 01851 ($2,361/mo), costs 8% more than the cheapest, 01852 ($2,179/mo).
Leominster, 24 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,885/mo), about $4,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lowell. 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.
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Who lives here
Lowell, MA is majority renter-occupied, 30% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lowell, MA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Lowell, MA has climbed 35.9% since 2021, going from about $1,657 per month to roughly $2,252 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Lowell, MA now reports about $78,658, up from $64,489 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 114,804 to 118,368 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 27.4% to 30%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Lowell, MA reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,252/mo, how Lowell rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lowell rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lowell. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lowell
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lowell is $2,252/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,408/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,055/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,565/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,475/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($78,658/yr), Lowell ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lowell?
At $2,252/mo, rent takes ~34% of Lowell's median household income ($78,658/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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