How much rent can you afford in Lowell, MA?
Run your salary against Lowell's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Lowell
At a median rent of $2,252/mo, Lowell is moderately stretched when measured against Lowell median household income of $78,658/yr. Rent would consume roughly 34% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $90,080 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Lowell compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Lowell?
On a $78,658 salary (the Lowell median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,966/mo. Lowell's median rent is $2,252/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Lowell?
To keep Lowell's $2,252/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $90,080/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Lowell affordable on the median Massachusetts income?
Lowell is moderately stretched on a $78,658 income. Rent would take 34% 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".