City Report · MA

Westwood

·11th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,318/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$1,386

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Westwood · $3,318

More expensive than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

55% of income

EXPENSIVE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,318/mo, rent takes about 55% of the US median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$133,000/yr

US median income

$72,000/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,420

1 BR

$2,560

2 BR

$3,030

3 BR

$3,650

4 BR+

$4,020

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,030/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,318 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

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheaper nearby

Norwood, 2 miles away, rents for 22% less ($2,579/mo), about $8,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Westwood.

Annual cost

$39,816/yr

At $3,318/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

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Community

Discussions about Westwood

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View Westwood rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Westwood on your salary?

At $3,318/mo, how Westwood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 36.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 51.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 44.4% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 24.9% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 19.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 54.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 60.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 49.1% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Westwood rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Westwood

About renting in Westwood, MA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Westwood is $3,318/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,420/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,560/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,650/mo.

At 55% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Westwood ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Westwood?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $133,000/year (about $64/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,318/mo in Westwood.