Most expensive cities for renters in Massachusetts
Cities in Massachusetts ranked by highest median rent. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Wellesley ranks first, with a median rent of $4,030/mo.
- Across all 70 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,745/mo.
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 | WellesleyMA | $4,030/mo | +7.8% | -- | 19.3% | same |
| 02 | NeedhamMA | $3,702/mo | +4.3% | -- | 20.7% | same |
| 03 | MedfordMA | $3,626/mo | +2.8% | +29.6% | 33.6% | same |
| 04 | SwampscottMA | $3,536/mo | 0.0% | -- | 31.6% | -- |
| 05 | LexingtonMA | $3,522/mo | 0.0% | -- | 17.7% | -- |
| 06 | BrooklineMA | $3,488/mo | +5.6% | +31.1% | 29.5% | same |
| 07 | CambridgeMA | $3,438/mo | +3.4% | +24.5% | 31.6% | ↓3 from #4 |
| 08 | SomervilleMA | $3,428/mo | +3.6% | +30.5% | 31.0% | ↓3 from #5 |
| 09 | NewtonMA | $3,358/mo | +3.0% | +28.9% | 21.2% | ↓2 from #7 |
| 10 | BostonMA | $3,271/mo | +2.8% | +27.9% | 40.3% | ↓1 from #9 |
| 11 | WinchesterMA | $3,191/mo | -1.6% | -- | 16.6% | ↓3 from #8 |
| 12 | WilmingtonMA | $3,162/mo | 0.0% | -- | 22.6% | -- |
| 13 | BurlingtonMA | $3,153/mo | +3.3% | -- | 25.8% | ↓2 from #11 |
| 14 | WatertownMA | $3,101/mo | +2.6% | +25.1% | 29.5% | ↓2 from #12 |
| 15 | SaugusMA | $3,057/mo | -3.4% | -- | 36.1% | ↓5 from #10 |
| 16 | StonehamMA | $3,055/mo | +3.9% | -- | 32.2% | ↓2 from #14 |
| 17 | BelmontMA | $3,051/mo | +3.2% | -- | 20.0% | ↓4 from #13 |
| 18 | MelroseMA | $3,031/mo | +3.7% | +29.2% | 27.2% | ↓3 from #15 |
| 19 | NewburyportMA | $3,028/mo | +4.0% | -- | 26.0% | ↓2 from #17 |
| 20 | AmherstMA | $2,999/mo | +5.1% | -- | -- | ↑1 from #21 |
| 21 | MarbleheadMA | $2,967/mo | +1.9% | -- | 19.5% | ↓5 from #16 |
| 22 | WalthamMA | $2,930/mo | +2.1% | +22.4% | 29.2% | ↓3 from #19 |
| 23 | MaldenMA | $2,929/mo | +2.8% | +26.6% | 34.9% | ↓1 from #22 |
| 24 | ArlingtonMA | $2,925/mo | +3.1% | +27.8% | 23.3% | ↓1 from #23 |
| 25 | BraintreeMA | $2,920/mo | +1.6% | +20.9% | -- | ↓7 from #18 |
| 26 | DedhamMA | $2,913/mo | +7.1% | -- | 27.1% | ↑3 from #29 |
| 27 | BarnstableMA | $2,894/mo | +2.4% | -- | -- | ↓3 from #24 |
| 28 | ReadingMA | $2,888/mo | +0.8% | -- | 20.9% | ↓8 from #20 |
| 29 | WoburnMA | $2,844/mo | +1.9% | +21.5% | 30.7% | ↓4 from #25 |
| 30 | PeabodyMA | $2,836/mo | +2.2% | -- | 35.2% | ↓4 from #26 |
| 31 | WakefieldMA | $2,827/mo | +4.1% | -- | 25.3% | same |
| 32 | DanversMA | $2,825/mo | +2.1% | -- | 27.0% | ↓5 from #27 |
| 33 | EverettMA | $2,803/mo | +2.6% | +24.0% | 39.5% | ↓5 from #28 |
| 34 | RevereMA | $2,764/mo | +1.6% | +26.6% | 38.1% | ↓4 from #30 |
| 35 | BeverlyMA | $2,745/mo | +8.1% | +36.6% | 31.1% | ↑5 from #40 |
| 36 | WinthropMA | $2,725/mo | +6.5% | -- | -- | ↑2 from #38 |
| 37 | QuincyMA | $2,712/mo | +1.2% | +22.0% | 32.9% | ↓5 from #32 |
| 38 | SalemMA | $2,683/mo | +2.1% | +26.4% | 37.8% | ↓3 from #35 |
| 39 | GloucesterMA | $2,678/mo | +6.1% | -- | 38.3% | ↑2 from #41 |
| 40 | MarlboroughMA | $2,666/mo | +0.2% | +21.3% | 34.8% | ↓7 from #33 |
| 41 | BridgewaterMA | $2,650/mo | +0.3% | -- | -- | ↓7 from #34 |
| 42 | ChelseaMA | $2,632/mo | +2.1% | +24.7% | 43.8% | ↓5 from #37 |
| 43 | RandolphMA | $2,582/mo | -0.7% | -- | -- | ↓7 from #36 |
| 44 | NorwoodMA | $2,579/mo | +1.2% | -- | 28.9% | ↓5 from #39 |
| 45 | HudsonMA | $2,558/mo | +5.0% | -- | 33.9% | ↓1 from #44 |
| 46 | WeymouthMA | $2,553/mo | +1.9% | +23.4% | -- | ↓4 from #42 |
| 47 | FranklinMA | $2,534/mo | +4.0% | +30.6% | -- | ↓2 from #45 |
| 48 | AmesburyMA | $2,500/mo | 0.0% | -- | 29.0% | ↓5 from #43 |
| 49 | LawrenceMA | $2,372/mo | +2.3% | +35.7% | 47.1% | ↓2 from #47 |
| 50 | AttleboroMA | $2,366/mo | +4.0% | -- | 28.7% | same |