Rents are 3% below what Malden'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 $2,929 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
February. Asking rents in Malden usually run 0.7% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in July, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Malden is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2016.
Rent in Malden changed +2.8% 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 Malden rose 27.5% while median household income rose 52.5% ($65,975 to $100,606). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Malden is 32% 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 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($100,606) is $2,515 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,420); a 2-bedroom is $2,870.
Chelsea, 3 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,632/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Malden. 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
Malden, MA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 45.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Malden, MA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Malden, MA stood at $2,155 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,929, reflecting a 35.9% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Malden, MA now reports about $100,606, up from $77,119 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 45.1% of adults here, versus 43% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Malden, MA reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,929/mo, how Malden rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Malden rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Malden. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Malden
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Malden is $2,929/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,290/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,870/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,420/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,460/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($100,606/yr), Malden ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Malden rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $2,929/mo, rent takes ~35% of Malden's median household income ($100,606/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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