Rents are 6% below what Salem'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 $2,683 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 Salem usually run 1.6% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in June, about $75 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Salem is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2017.
Rent in Salem changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Salem rose 34.9% while median household income rose 23.8% ($68,808 to $85,153). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Salem is 36.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,153) is $2,129 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($2,000); a 1-bedroom is $2,140.
Lynn, 6 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,342/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Salem. 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.
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Who lives here
Salem, MA is roughly split between renters and owners, 47.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Salem, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Salem, MA has increased from $2,024 to $2,683, a 32.6% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $85,153 today, compared with $72,884 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 50.3% of households, compared with 48.4% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $2,683/mo, how Salem rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Salem rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Salem. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Salem
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Salem is $2,683/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 ($85,153/yr), Salem ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Salem rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $2,683/mo, rent takes ~38% of Salem's median household income ($85,153/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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