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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Stoneham, MA is $3,023. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Stoneham cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Stoneham is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts, ranking #26 out of 112 cities tracked at $3,023/mo.

When was Stoneham rent data last updated?

Stoneham rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Stoneham, MA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Stoneham, MA at $2,580 per month, which is 15% below the $3,023 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · MA

Stoneham

Name: Average Rent Prices in Stoneham, MA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 23,355·26th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,023/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.3%

Month-over-Month

-2.0%

vs US Median

+$1,061

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Stoneham · $3,023

More expensive than 91% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

32% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,023/mo, rent takes about 32% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$121,000/yr

Local median income

$113,964/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Stoneham's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,060

1 BR

$2,180

2 BR

$2,580

3 BR

$3,110

4 BR+

$3,420

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,580/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,023 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$36,276/yr

At $3,023/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.3% YoY, -2.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Stoneham, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 55.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

23,355

Median income

$113,964

Median age

42.2

Renters

29%

Age distribution

20.8%

17.5%

28.1%

13.3%

20.4%

Under 1820.8%

18–3417.5%

35–5428.1%

55–6413.3%

65+20.4%

Gender

47.6%

52.4%

Male47.6%

Female52.4%

Race & ethnicity

81.8%

White81.8%

Black1.5%

Hispanic4.7%

Asian6.8%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

21.8%

17.6%

55.9%

No HS diploma4.6%

HS diploma21.8%

Some college17.6%

Bachelor's+55.9%

Housing tenure

71%

29%

Owner71%

Renter29%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Stoneham, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,859 → $3,023

up 5.7%

Income

$105,541 → $113,964

up 8.0%

Population

23,077 → 23,355

up 1.2%

Renter share

32.2% → 29%

-3.2 pts

Bachelor's+

48.1% → 55.9%

+7.8 pts

Median age

42.8 → 42.2

-0.6 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Stoneham, MA has shifted from $2,859 to $3,023, up 5.7% since 2023. Census figures show median household income at $113,964 today, compared with $105,541 five years earlier. Census counts show Stoneham, MA adding about 278 residents over the five-year window, up 1.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 32.2% to 29%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 48.1% to 55.9% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

Community

Discussions about Stoneham

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View Stoneham rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Stoneham on your salary?

At $3,023/mo, how Stoneham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 33.1% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 46.6% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 40.5% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 22.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 17.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 49.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 55.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 44.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Stoneham rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Stoneham

About renting in Stoneham, MA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Stoneham is $3,023/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,060/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,580/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,180/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,110/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($113,964/yr), Stoneham ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Stoneham an affordable city for renters?

Stoneham is considered moderate for renters. At $3,023/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($113,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Stoneham slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Stoneham?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $121,000/year (~$58/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,023/mo in Stoneham. The local median household income is $113,964/yr, meaning the typical Stoneham household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Stoneham?

Rent in Stoneham has increased 4.3% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Stoneham rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Stoneham is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts for rent, ranking #26 out of 112 tracked cities at $3,023/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Stoneham?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Stoneham ($3,023/mo): Wakefield ($2,838/mo), Woburn ($2,870/mo), Melrose ($2,969/mo).

What percentage of Stoneham residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 29% of Stoneham households are renters, while 71% are owner-occupied. Stoneham leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Stoneham rent compare to the national average?

Stoneham's median rent of $3,023/mo is $1,061 (54%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Massachusetts, it ranks #26 out of 112 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $3,023/mo, rent takes ~32% of Stoneham's median household income ($113,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Stoneham 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax5%

Run the Stoneham affordability calculator →

Nearby cities