Rents are right about where Somerville'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 $3,428 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
December. Asking rents in Somerville usually run 4% below trend in December and 3.6% above it in June, about $261 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Somerville is 0.2% below its high of $3,434 in August 2026, at $3,428 as of September 2026.
Rent in Somerville changed +3.6% 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 Somerville rose 23.9% while median household income rose 36.2% ($97,328 to $132,572). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Somerville is 29.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($132,572) is $3,314 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,303); a 3-bedroom is $3,977.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Somerville, 02144 ($4,065/mo), costs 28% more than the cheapest, 02143 ($3,176/mo).
Everett, 3 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,803/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Somerville. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Somerville, MA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 69.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Somerville, MA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Somerville, MA paid around $2,496 a month. That figure now sits near $3,428, up 37.3% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $108,896 in 2021 to $132,572 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 65.9% to 69.4% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Somerville, MA market of 2021.
Discussions about Somerville
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Somerville on your salary?
At $3,428/mo, how Somerville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Somerville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Somerville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Somerville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Somerville is $3,428/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,633/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,303/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,787/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,977/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($132,572/yr), Somerville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Somerville?
Is rent going up or down in Somerville?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Somerville?
Has rent outpaced income in Somerville?
Which Somerville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Somerville rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $3,428/mo, rent takes ~31% of Somerville's median household income ($132,572/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 Somerville.
No discussions yet.