Rents are 8% below what Worcester'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 $2,122 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
January. Asking rents in Worcester usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 1% above it in July, about $38 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Worcester is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Worcester changed +1.8% 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 Worcester rose 48.9% while median household income rose 45.6% ($48,139 to $70,102). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Worcester is 52.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($70,102) is $1,753 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,458); a 2-bedroom is $1,878.
The priciest of 8 ZIP codes in Worcester, 01605 ($2,272/mo), costs 21% more than the cheapest, 01608 ($1,875/mo).
Spencer, 9 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,824/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Worcester. 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
Worcester, MA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 35.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Worcester, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Worcester, MA has increased from $1,498 to $2,122, a 41.7% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $56,746 to $70,102 across the same window, up 23.5% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 203,867 residents to roughly 207,055. College-educated residents now make up 35.2% of adults here, versus 32.2% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Worcester, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Worcester
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Worcester on your salary?
At $2,122/mo, how Worcester rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Worcester rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Worcester. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Worcester
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Worcester is $2,122/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,448/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,878/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,458/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,294/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($70,102/yr), Worcester ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Worcester?
Is rent going up or down in Worcester?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Worcester?
Has rent outpaced income in Worcester?
Which Worcester neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Worcester rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $2,122/mo, rent takes ~36% of Worcester's median household income ($70,102/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 Worcester.
No discussions yet.