Best rent-to-income cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Winchester ranks first, with rent at 16.6% of median household income.
Across all 62 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,764/mo.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

62 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	WinchesterMA Pop. 23KCompare →	16.6%	$3,191/mo	$230,198	same
02	LexingtonMA Pop. 34KCompare →	17.7%	$3,522/mo	$238,444	--
03	WellesleyMA Pop. 30KCompare →	19.3%	$4,030/mo	$250,001	↓1 from #2
04	MarbleheadMA Pop. 20KCompare →	19.5%	$2,967/mo	$182,132	↓1 from #3
05	BelmontMA Pop. 27KCompare →	20.0%	$3,051/mo	$183,137	↓1 from #4
06	NeedhamMA Pop. 32KCompare →	20.7%	$3,702/mo	$214,308	↓1 from #5
07	ReadingMA Pop. 26KCompare →	20.9%	$2,888/mo	$165,912	same
08	NewtonMA Pop. 89KCompare →	21.2%	$3,358/mo	$190,304	↓2 from #6
09	WilmingtonMA Pop. 23KCompare →	22.6%	$3,162/mo	$168,152	--
10	ArlingtonMA Pop. 46KCompare →	23.3%	$2,925/mo	$150,701	↓2 from #8
11	MethuenMA Pop. 53KCompare →	24.9%	$2,352/mo	$113,310	↓2 from #9
12	WakefieldMA Pop. 28KCompare →	25.3%	$2,827/mo	$134,306	↓2 from #10
13	FraminghamMA Pop. 72KCompare →	25.7%	$2,298/mo	$107,419	↑4 from #17
14	BurlingtonMA Pop. 26KCompare →	25.8%	$3,153/mo	$146,436	↓3 from #11
15	NewburyportMA Pop. 19KCompare →	26.0%	$3,028/mo	$139,625	↓3 from #12
16	PittsfieldMA Pop. 43KCompare →	26.3%	$1,545/mo	$70,582	↓2 from #14
17	WestfieldMA Pop. 40KCompare →	26.7%	$1,950/mo	$87,753	↓2 from #15
18	LeominsterMA Pop. 44KCompare →	27.0%	$1,885/mo	$83,816	same
19	DanversMA Pop. 28KCompare →	27.0%	$2,825/mo	$125,395	same
20	DedhamMA Pop. 25KCompare →	27.1%	$2,913/mo	$128,955	↓7 from #13
21	MelroseMA Pop. 30KCompare →	27.2%	$3,031/mo	$133,953	↓5 from #16
22	AttleboroMA Pop. 47KCompare →	28.7%	$2,366/mo	$98,954	↓2 from #20
23	NorwoodMA Pop. 32KCompare →	28.9%	$2,579/mo	$107,030	↓1 from #22
24	AmesburyMA Pop. 17KCompare →	29.0%	$2,500/mo	$103,554	↓1 from #23
25	WalthamMA Pop. 65KCompare →	29.2%	$2,930/mo	$120,216	same
26	MilfordMA Pop. 28KCompare →	29.3%	$2,281/mo	$93,310	↑3 from #29
27	BrooklineMA Pop. 63KCompare →	29.5%	$3,488/mo	$142,101	↓6 from #21
28	WatertownMA Pop. 36KCompare →	29.5%	$3,101/mo	$126,265	↓2 from #26
29	GardnerMA Pop. 21KCompare →	29.8%	$1,676/mo	$67,518	↓1 from #28
30	FitchburgMA Pop. 42KCompare →	30.5%	$1,859/mo	$73,040	↑3 from #33
31	HaverhillMA Pop. 68KCompare →	30.7%	$2,258/mo	$88,326	↑4 from #35
32	WoburnMA Pop. 42KCompare →	30.7%	$2,844/mo	$111,185	same
33	SomervilleMA Pop. 81KCompare →	31.0%	$3,428/mo	$132,572	↓3 from #30
34	BeverlyMA Pop. 43KCompare →	31.1%	$2,745/mo	$106,044	↓7 from #27
35	TauntonMA Pop. 60KCompare →	31.3%	$2,069/mo	$79,283	↓11 from #24
36	CambridgeMA Pop. 119KCompare →	31.6%	$3,438/mo	$130,748	↓2 from #34
37	SwampscottMA Pop. 15KCompare →	31.6%	$3,536/mo	$134,386	--
38	ChicopeeMA Pop. 55KCompare →	31.9%	$1,665/mo	$62,615	↓7 from #31
39	StonehamMA Pop. 23KCompare →	32.2%	$3,055/mo	$113,964	↓3 from #36
40	QuincyMA Pop. 102KCompare →	32.9%	$2,712/mo	$98,882	↓2 from #38
41	MedfordMA Pop. 59KCompare →	33.6%	$3,626/mo	$129,540	↓1 from #40
42	HudsonMA Pop. 16KCompare →	33.9%	$2,558/mo	$90,524	↓5 from #37
43	BrocktonMA Pop. 105KCompare →	34.3%	$2,289/mo	$80,115	↓4 from #39
44	LowellMA Pop. 118KCompare →	34.4%	$2,252/mo	$78,658	↓3 from #41
45	NorthamptonMA Pop. 31KCompare →	34.8%	$2,327/mo	$80,288	↓2 from #43
46	MarlboroughMA Pop. 42KCompare →	34.8%	$2,666/mo	$91,968	↓1 from #45
47	MaldenMA Pop. 66KCompare →	34.9%	$2,929/mo	$100,606	↓5 from #42
48	PeabodyMA Pop. 55KCompare →	35.2%	$2,836/mo	$96,657	↓4 from #44
49	SaugusMA Pop. 29KCompare →	36.1%	$3,057/mo	$101,539	↑3 from #52
50	WorcesterMA Pop. 207KCompare →	36.3%	$2,122/mo	$70,102	↓4 from #46