Rents are right about where Melrose's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,969 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: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Melrose, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 62% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Melrose, MA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Melrose, MA has increased 43.2% since 2021, going from about $2,073 per month to roughly $2,969 today. Census figures show median household income at $133,953 today, compared with $125,229 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 36.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Melrose
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Melrose on your salary?
At $2,969/mo, how Melrose rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Melrose rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Melrose. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Melrose
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Melrose is $2,969/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,740/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,310/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,300/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($133,953/yr), Melrose ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 13.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melrose an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Melrose?
Is rent going up or down in Melrose?
How does Melrose rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Melrose?
What percentage of Melrose residents rent vs. own?
How does Melrose rent compare to the national average?
At $2,969/mo, rent takes ~27% of Melrose's median household income ($133,953/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 Melrose.
No discussions yet.
