Home/Rankings/Most rent-burdened/Massachusetts

Most rent-burdened cities in Massachusetts

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

Key findings

Lawrence ranks first, with rent at 47.1% of median household income.
Across all 62 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,764/mo.
Gloucester moved from #13 to #7 compared with a year ago.

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	LawrenceMA Pop. 89KCompare →	47.1%	$2,372/mo	$60,433	same
02	ChelseaMA Pop. 40KCompare →	43.8%	$2,632/mo	$72,179	same
03	SpringfieldMA Pop. 155KCompare →	41.5%	$1,822/mo	$52,656	↑2 from #5
04	BostonMA Pop. 666KCompare →	40.3%	$3,271/mo	$97,344	↓1 from #3
05	Fall RiverMA Pop. 94KCompare →	40.0%	$1,888/mo	$56,673	↓1 from #4
06	EverettMA Pop. 50KCompare →	39.5%	$2,803/mo	$85,218	same
07	GloucesterMA Pop. 30KCompare →	38.3%	$2,678/mo	$83,883	↑6 from #13
08	New BedfordMA Pop. 101KCompare →	38.1%	$1,811/mo	$56,981	↑1 from #9
09	RevereMA Pop. 60KCompare →	38.1%	$2,764/mo	$86,969	↓2 from #7
10	SalemMA Pop. 45KCompare →	37.8%	$2,683/mo	$85,153	same
11	LynnMA Pop. 102KCompare →	37.5%	$2,342/mo	$75,043	↑1 from #12
12	HolyokeMA Pop. 38KCompare →	37.2%	$1,663/mo	$53,605	↓1 from #11
13	WorcesterMA Pop. 207KCompare →	36.3%	$2,122/mo	$70,102	↑1 from #14
14	SaugusMA Pop. 29KCompare →	36.1%	$3,057/mo	$101,539	↓6 from #8
15	PeabodyMA Pop. 55KCompare →	35.2%	$2,836/mo	$96,657	↑1 from #16
16	MaldenMA Pop. 66KCompare →	34.9%	$2,929/mo	$100,606	↑2 from #18
17	MarlboroughMA Pop. 42KCompare →	34.8%	$2,666/mo	$91,968	↓2 from #15
18	NorthamptonMA Pop. 31KCompare →	34.8%	$2,327/mo	$80,288	↓1 from #17
19	LowellMA Pop. 118KCompare →	34.4%	$2,252/mo	$78,658	same
20	BrocktonMA Pop. 105KCompare →	34.3%	$2,289/mo	$80,115	↑1 from #21
21	HudsonMA Pop. 16KCompare →	33.9%	$2,558/mo	$90,524	↑2 from #23
22	MedfordMA Pop. 59KCompare →	33.6%	$3,626/mo	$129,540	↓2 from #20
23	QuincyMA Pop. 102KCompare →	32.9%	$2,712/mo	$98,882	↓1 from #22
24	StonehamMA Pop. 23KCompare →	32.2%	$3,055/mo	$113,964	same
25	ChicopeeMA Pop. 55KCompare →	31.9%	$1,665/mo	$62,615	↑4 from #29
26	SwampscottMA Pop. 15KCompare →	31.6%	$3,536/mo	$134,386	--
27	CambridgeMA Pop. 119KCompare →	31.6%	$3,438/mo	$130,748	↓1 from #26
28	TauntonMA Pop. 60KCompare →	31.3%	$2,069/mo	$79,283	↑8 from #36
29	BeverlyMA Pop. 43KCompare →	31.1%	$2,745/mo	$106,044	↑4 from #33
30	SomervilleMA Pop. 81KCompare →	31.0%	$3,428/mo	$132,572	same
31	WoburnMA Pop. 42KCompare →	30.7%	$2,844/mo	$111,185	↓3 from #28
32	HaverhillMA Pop. 68KCompare →	30.7%	$2,258/mo	$88,326	↓7 from #25
33	FitchburgMA Pop. 42KCompare →	30.5%	$1,859/mo	$73,040	↓6 from #27
34	GardnerMA Pop. 21KCompare →	29.8%	$1,676/mo	$67,518	↓2 from #32
35	WatertownMA Pop. 36KCompare →	29.5%	$3,101/mo	$126,265	↓1 from #34
36	BrooklineMA Pop. 63KCompare →	29.5%	$3,488/mo	$142,101	↑3 from #39
37	MilfordMA Pop. 28KCompare →	29.3%	$2,281/mo	$93,310	↓6 from #31
38	WalthamMA Pop. 65KCompare →	29.2%	$2,930/mo	$120,216	↓3 from #35
39	AmesburyMA Pop. 17KCompare →	29.0%	$2,500/mo	$103,554	↓2 from #37
40	NorwoodMA Pop. 32KCompare →	28.9%	$2,579/mo	$107,030	↓2 from #38
41	AttleboroMA Pop. 47KCompare →	28.7%	$2,366/mo	$98,954	↓1 from #40
42	MelroseMA Pop. 30KCompare →	27.2%	$3,031/mo	$133,953	↑2 from #44
43	DedhamMA Pop. 25KCompare →	27.1%	$2,913/mo	$128,955	↑4 from #47
44	DanversMA Pop. 28KCompare →	27.0%	$2,825/mo	$125,395	↓3 from #41
45	LeominsterMA Pop. 44KCompare →	27.0%	$1,885/mo	$83,816	↓3 from #42
46	WestfieldMA Pop. 40KCompare →	26.7%	$1,950/mo	$87,753	↓1 from #45
47	PittsfieldMA Pop. 43KCompare →	26.3%	$1,545/mo	$70,582	↓1 from #46
48	NewburyportMA Pop. 19KCompare →	26.0%	$3,028/mo	$139,625	same
49	BurlingtonMA Pop. 26KCompare →	25.8%	$3,153/mo	$146,436	same
50	FraminghamMA Pop. 72KCompare →	25.7%	$2,298/mo	$107,419	↓7 from #43