Rents are 4% below what Methuen'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 $2,352 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
Rent in Methuen is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2023.
Rent in Methuen changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($113,310) is $2,833 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,630).
Hampton, NH, 22 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,015/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Methuen. 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
Methuen, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 31% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Methuen, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Methuen, MA has increased from $2,139 to $2,352, a 10.0% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $77,484 to $113,310 across the same window, up 46.2% versus 2019. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2019 baseline. The population has grown by 6.4% since 2019, moving from about 50,282 residents to roughly 53,475. College-educated residents now make up 31% of adults here, versus 28.1% in 2019. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Methuen, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Methuen on your salary?
At $2,352/mo, how Methuen rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Methuen rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Methuen. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Methuen
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Methuen is $2,352/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,360/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,510/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,390/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($113,310/yr), Methuen ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Methuen?
Is rent going up or down in Methuen?
How does Methuen rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Methuen?
At $2,352/mo, rent takes ~25% of Methuen's median household income ($113,310/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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