City Report · MA

Rockport

Pop. 4,704·52nd most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,747/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+3.5%

vs US Median

+$815

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Rockport · $2,747

More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

38% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,747/mo, rent takes about 38% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$110,000/yr

Local median income

$86,250/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Rockport'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 $2,747 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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($86,250) is $2,156 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,140); a 2-bedroom is $2,550.

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

Annual cost

$32,964/yr

At $2,747/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +3.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Rockport, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 57.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

4,704

Median income

$86,250

Median age

Renters

33.7%

Age distribution

12.6%

13.6%

21.1%

42.9%

Under 189.8%

18–3412.6%

35–5413.6%

55–6421.1%

65+42.9%

Gender

45.9%

54.1%

Male45.9%

Female54.1%

Race & ethnicity

93.2%

White93.2%

Black0.7%

Hispanic3.8%

Other2.3%

Education (25+)

12.2%

26.6%

57.1%

No HS diploma4.1%

HS diploma12.2%

Some college26.6%

Bachelor's+57.1%

Housing tenure

66.3%

33.7%

Owner66.3%

Renter33.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Rockport, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$84,500 → $86,250

up 2.1%

Population

4,889 → 4,704

down 3.8%

Renter share

34.4% → 33.7%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

59% → 57.1%

-1.9 pts

Median age

58.6 → 63

+4.4 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $84,500 to $86,250 across the same window, up 2.1% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 4,889 to 4,704 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.8% change.

Community

Discussions about Rockport

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View Rockport rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Rockport on your salary?

At $2,747/mo, how Rockport rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 42.4% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 36.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 20.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 16.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 45.2% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 50.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 40.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Rockport rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Rockport

About renting in Rockport, MA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Rockport is $2,747/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 38% of local median household income ($86,250/yr), Rockport ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Rockport?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $110,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,747/mo in Rockport. The local median household income is $86,250/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.