Rents are 9% below what Marlborough'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 $2,666 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
January. Asking rents in Marlborough usually run 1% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in July, about $59 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Marlborough is 0.6% below its high of $2,683 in July 2025, at $2,666 as of September 2026.
Rent in Marlborough changed +0.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,968) is $2,299 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,140); a 2-bedroom is $2,550.
Framingham, 6 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,298/mo), about $4,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Marlborough. 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
Marlborough, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 40.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Marlborough, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Marlborough, MA has increased from $2,062 to $2,666, a 29.3% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $86,230 in 2021 to $91,968 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 44% of households, compared with 42.4% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Marlborough, MA market of 2021.
Discussions about Marlborough
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Marlborough on your salary?
At $2,666/mo, how Marlborough rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Marlborough rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Marlborough. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Marlborough
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Marlborough is $2,666/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,550/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,140/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,080/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($91,968/yr), Marlborough ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Marlborough?
Is rent going up or down in Marlborough?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Marlborough?
How does Marlborough rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Marlborough?
At $2,666/mo, rent takes ~35% of Marlborough's median household income ($91,968/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 Marlborough.
No discussions yet.