Most affordable cities for renters in Massachusetts
Cities in Massachusetts ranked by lowest median rent. Includes cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Pittsfield ranks first, with a median rent of $1,545/mo.
- Across all 70 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,745/mo.
- Framingham moved from #22 to #17 compared with a year ago.
Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
70 cities
| Rank | City | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | PittsfieldMA | $1,545/mo | +2.3% | -- | 26.3% | same |
| 02 | HolyokeMA | $1,663/mo | +2.8% | -- | 37.2% | ↑1 from #3 |
| 03 | ChicopeeMA | $1,665/mo | +6.1% | -- | 31.9% | ↓1 from #2 |
| 04 | GardnerMA | $1,676/mo | +3.2% | -- | 29.8% | same |
| 05 | New BedfordMA | $1,811/mo | +3.0% | -- | 38.1% | ↑1 from #6 |
| 06 | SpringfieldMA | $1,822/mo | +7.2% | +46.8% | 41.5% | ↓1 from #5 |
| 07 | FitchburgMA | $1,859/mo | +0.7% | -- | 30.5% | ↑2 from #9 |
| 08 | LeominsterMA | $1,885/mo | +2.4% | -- | 27.0% | ↓1 from #7 |
| 09 | Fall RiverMA | $1,888/mo | +2.4% | +39.0% | 40.0% | ↓1 from #8 |
| 10 | WestfieldMA | $1,950/mo | +3.6% | -- | 26.7% | same |
| 11 | TauntonMA | $2,069/mo | +9.5% | -- | 31.3% | same |
| 12 | WorcesterMA | $2,122/mo | +1.8% | +34.7% | 36.3% | same |
| 13 | LowellMA | $2,252/mo | +1.9% | +30.5% | 34.4% | ↑1 from #14 |
| 14 | HaverhillMA | $2,258/mo | -0.4% | +27.0% | 30.7% | ↑2 from #16 |
| 15 | MilfordMA | $2,281/mo | -0.3% | -- | 29.3% | ↑4 from #19 |
| 16 | BrocktonMA | $2,289/mo | +5.0% | -- | 34.3% | ↓3 from #13 |
| 17 | FraminghamMA | $2,298/mo | -2.5% | +15.9% | 25.7% | ↑5 from #22 |
| 18 | NorthamptonMA | $2,327/mo | +1.4% | -- | 34.8% | ↑2 from #20 |
| 19 | LynnMA | $2,342/mo | +3.6% | +31.3% | 37.5% | ↓4 from #15 |
| 20 | MethuenMA | $2,352/mo | +3.4% | -- | 24.9% | ↓3 from #17 |
| 21 | AttleboroMA | $2,366/mo | +4.0% | -- | 28.7% | ↓3 from #18 |
| 22 | LawrenceMA | $2,372/mo | +2.3% | +35.7% | 47.1% | ↓1 from #21 |
| 23 | AmesburyMA | $2,500/mo | 0.0% | -- | 29.0% | ↑2 from #25 |
| 24 | FranklinMA | $2,534/mo | +4.0% | +30.6% | -- | ↓1 from #23 |
| 25 | WeymouthMA | $2,553/mo | +1.9% | +23.4% | -- | ↑1 from #26 |
| 26 | HudsonMA | $2,558/mo | +5.0% | -- | 33.9% | ↓2 from #24 |
| 27 | NorwoodMA | $2,579/mo | +1.2% | -- | 28.9% | ↑2 from #29 |
| 28 | RandolphMA | $2,582/mo | -0.7% | -- | -- | ↑4 from #32 |
| 29 | ChelseaMA | $2,632/mo | +2.1% | +24.7% | 43.8% | ↑2 from #31 |
| 30 | BridgewaterMA | $2,650/mo | +0.3% | -- | -- | ↑4 from #34 |
| 31 | MarlboroughMA | $2,666/mo | +0.2% | +21.3% | 34.8% | ↑4 from #35 |
| 32 | GloucesterMA | $2,678/mo | +6.1% | -- | 38.3% | ↓5 from #27 |
| 33 | SalemMA | $2,683/mo | +2.1% | +26.4% | 37.8% | same |
| 34 | QuincyMA | $2,712/mo | +1.2% | +22.0% | 32.9% | ↑2 from #36 |
| 35 | WinthropMA | $2,725/mo | +6.5% | -- | -- | ↓5 from #30 |
| 36 | BeverlyMA | $2,745/mo | +8.1% | +36.6% | 31.1% | ↓8 from #28 |
| 37 | RevereMA | $2,764/mo | +1.6% | +26.6% | 38.1% | ↑1 from #38 |
| 38 | EverettMA | $2,803/mo | +2.6% | +24.0% | 39.5% | ↑2 from #40 |
| 39 | DanversMA | $2,825/mo | +2.1% | -- | 27.0% | ↑2 from #41 |
| 40 | WakefieldMA | $2,827/mo | +4.1% | -- | 25.3% | ↓3 from #37 |
| 41 | PeabodyMA | $2,836/mo | +2.2% | -- | 35.2% | ↑1 from #42 |
| 42 | WoburnMA | $2,844/mo | +1.9% | +21.5% | 30.7% | ↑1 from #43 |
| 43 | ReadingMA | $2,888/mo | +0.8% | -- | 20.9% | ↑5 from #48 |
| 44 | BarnstableMA | $2,894/mo | +2.4% | -- | -- | same |
| 45 | DedhamMA | $2,913/mo | +7.1% | -- | 27.1% | ↓6 from #39 |
| 46 | BraintreeMA | $2,920/mo | +1.6% | +20.9% | -- | ↑4 from #50 |
| 47 | ArlingtonMA | $2,925/mo | +3.1% | +27.8% | 23.3% | ↓2 from #45 |
| 48 | MaldenMA | $2,929/mo | +2.8% | +26.6% | 34.9% | ↓2 from #46 |
| 49 | WalthamMA | $2,930/mo | +2.1% | +22.4% | 29.2% | same |
| 50 | MarbleheadMA | $2,967/mo | +1.9% | -- | 19.5% | ↑2 from #52 |