City Report · MA

Newburyport

Pop. 18,652·24th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$3,028/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.0%
Month-over-Month
-0.8%
vs US Median
+$1,096
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Newburyport · $3,028
More expensive than 91% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,028/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$121,000/yr
Local median income
$139,625/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Newburyport's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,000
1 BR
$2,140
2 BR
$2,550
3 BR
$3,080
4 BR+
$3,390
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,550/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,028 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in Newburyport changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($139,625) is $3,491 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,390).

Cheaper nearby

Amesbury, 4 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,500/mo), about $6,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Newburyport. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$36,336/yr
At $3,028/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.0% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Newburyport, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 67% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,652
Median income
$139,625
Median age
49.8
Renters
22.5%
Age distribution
19.9%
14.6%
22.5%
18.6%
24.4%
Under 1819.9%
18–3414.6%
35–5422.5%
55–6418.6%
65+24.4%
Gender
43.6%
56.4%
Male43.6%
Female56.4%
Race & ethnicity
91.1%
White91.1%
Hispanic2.7%
Asian0.9%
Other4.9%
Education (25+)
19.5%
67%
No HS diploma2.3%
HS diploma11.2%
Some college19.5%
Bachelor's+67%
Housing tenure
77.5%
22.5%
Owner77.5%
Renter22.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Newburyport, MA has changed in 5 years

Income
$115,807 → $139,625
up 20.6%
Population
18,282 → 18,652
up 2.0%
Renter share
23% → 22.5%
-0.5 pts
Bachelor's+
64.4% → 67%
+2.6 pts
Median age
46.4 → 49.8
+3.4 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $139,625 today, compared with $115,807 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 18,282 to 18,652 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.0% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 64.4% to 67%.

Community

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View Newburyport rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Newburyport on your salary?

At $3,028/mo, how Newburyport rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Newburyport rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Newburyport. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Newburyport

About renting in Newburyport, MA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Newburyport is $3,028/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 26% of local median household income ($139,625/yr), Newburyport ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Newburyport?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $121,000/year (about $58/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,028/mo in Newburyport. The local median household income is $139,625/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Newburyport?

Rent in Newburyport has risen 4.0% over the past year.

How does Newburyport rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Newburyport is one of the pricier among Massachusetts cities for rent, ranking #24 of 107 tracked cities at $3,028/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Newburyport changed +4.0%, against a typical +2.8% across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Newburyport?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Newburyport ($3,028/mo) include Hampton ($2,015/mo), Haverhill ($2,258/mo), and Amesbury ($2,500/mo).
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $3,028/mo, rent takes ~26% of Newburyport's median household income ($139,625/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Newburyport 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5%
Run the Newburyport affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Newburyport, MA

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