How much does it cost to rent in Somerville, MA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Somerville, MA is $3,589. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Somerville cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Somerville is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts, ranking #7 out of 107 cities tracked at $3,589/mo.

When was Somerville rent data last updated?

Somerville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MA

Somerville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Somerville, MA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 81,036·7th most expensive in Massachusetts·Somerville rents are up 9.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,589/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.4%

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

+$1,624

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Somerville rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Somerville · $3,589

More expensive than 96% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

49/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Somerville's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,589/mo

Expected by trend

$3,569/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Somerville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,633

1 BR

$2,787

2 BR

$3,303

3 BR

$3,977

4 BR+

$4,380

Research median

$3,303/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$43,068/yr

At $3,589/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.4% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

81,036

Median income

$132,572

Median age

31.9

Renters

65.8%

Age distribution

48.2%

24.2%

Under 189.8%

18–3448.2%

35–5424.2%

55–647.8%

65+10%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

67.8%

White67.8%

Black4.5%

Hispanic11.4%

Asian11.6%

Other4.8%

Education (25+)

12.3%

69.4%

No HS diploma7.1%

HS diploma12.3%

Some college11.2%

Bachelor's+69.4%

Housing tenure

34.2%

65.8%

Owner34.2%

Renter65.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Somerville, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,678 → $3,589

up 34.0%

Income

$108,896 → $132,572

up 21.7%

Population

80,608 → 81,036

up 0.5%

Renter share

66.1% → 65.8%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

65.9% → 69.4%

+3.5 pts

Five years ago, renters in Somerville, MA paid around $2,678 a month. That figure now sits near $3,589, up 34.0% 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.

Community

Discussions about Somerville

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Somerville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Somerville on your salary?

At $3,589/mo, how Somerville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 39.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 55.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 48% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 26.9% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 21% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 59.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 65.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 53.1% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Somerville rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Somerville

About renting in Somerville, MA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Somerville is $3,589/mo as of July 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 9.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Somerville an affordable city for renters?

Somerville is considered moderate for renters. At $3,589/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($132,572/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Somerville slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Somerville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $144,000/year (~$69/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,589/mo in Somerville. The local median household income is $132,572/yr, meaning the typical Somerville household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Somerville?

Rent in Somerville has increased 9.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Somerville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Somerville are 02145 ($3,489/mo), 02143 ($3,490/mo), and 02144 ($3,844/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Somerville is $3,589/mo.

How does Somerville rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Somerville is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts for rent, ranking #7 out of 107 tracked cities at $3,589/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Somerville?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Somerville ($3,589/mo): Malden ($2,803/mo), Everett ($2,815/mo), Medford ($3,419/mo).

What percentage of Somerville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 65.8% of Somerville households are renters, while 34.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Somerville has a strong rental market.

How does Somerville rent compare to the national average?

Somerville's median rent of $3,589/mo is $1,624 (83%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Massachusetts, it ranks #7 out of 107 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $3,589/mo, rent takes ~32% of Somerville's median household income ($132,572/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Somerville 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax5%

Run the Somerville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities

Cambridge

$3,598/mo

+$9

Medford