Rents are 2% below what Somerville'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 $3,497 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: August 17, 2026
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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 $2,678 a month. That figure now sits near $3,497, up 30.6% 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
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Can you afford rent in Somerville on your salary?
At $3,497/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Somerville is $3,497/mo as of August 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 32% of local median household income ($132,572/yr), Somerville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Somerville an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Somerville?
Is rent going up or down in Somerville?
Which Somerville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Somerville rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Somerville?
What percentage of Somerville residents rent vs. own?
How does Somerville rent compare to the national average?
At $3,497/mo, rent takes ~32% of Somerville's median household income ($132,572/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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