Rents are 7% below what Pawtucket'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 $1,866 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
February. Asking rents in Pawtucket usually run 1.5% below trend in February and 1% above it in June, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Pawtucket is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2018.
Rent in Pawtucket changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 19 Rhode Island cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Pawtucket rose 52.9% while median household income rose 35.3% ($50,476 to $68,310). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Pawtucket is 63.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($68,310) is $1,708 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,530); a 3-bedroom is $1,850.
Central Falls, 2 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,547/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Pawtucket. 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.
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Who lives here
Pawtucket, RI is roughly split between renters and owners, 22.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Pawtucket, RI has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Pawtucket, RI stood at $1,223 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,866, reflecting a 52.6% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $68,310 today, compared with $56,427 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 49.9% of households, compared with 52.3% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Pawtucket on your salary?
At $1,866/mo, how Pawtucket rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Pawtucket rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Pawtucket. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Pawtucket
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Pawtucket is $1,866/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,170/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,850/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($68,310/yr), Pawtucket ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Pawtucket?
Is rent going up or down in Pawtucket?
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Has rent outpaced income in Pawtucket?
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How does Pawtucket rent compare to other cities in Rhode Island?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Pawtucket?
At $1,866/mo, rent takes ~33% of Pawtucket's median household income ($68,310/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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