Rent rising fastest in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts with the largest year-over-year rent increases. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.

Key findings

Taunton ranks first, with +9.5% over the past year.
Across all 60 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,745/mo.
Dedham moved from #47 to #5 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Change in Zillow's rent index over the past 12 months. Rank a year ago uses the change over the 12 months before that. 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

60 cities

Rank	City	1-yr change	Median rent	5-yr change	Vs. a year ago
01	TauntonMA Pop. 60KCompare →	+9.5%	$2,069/mo	--	↑14 from #15
02	BeverlyMA Pop. 43KCompare →	+8.1%	$2,745/mo	+36.6%	↑40 from #42
03	WellesleyMA Pop. 30KCompare →	+7.8%	$4,030/mo	--	↑3 from #6
04	SpringfieldMA Pop. 155KCompare →	+7.2%	$1,822/mo	+46.8%	↑15 from #19
05	DedhamMA Pop. 25KCompare →	+7.1%	$2,913/mo	--	↑42 from #47
06	WinthropMA Pop. 19KCompare →	+6.5%	$2,725/mo	--	↑2 from #8
07	GloucesterMA Pop. 30KCompare →	+6.1%	$2,678/mo	--	--
08	ChicopeeMA Pop. 55KCompare →	+6.1%	$1,665/mo	--	--
09	BrooklineMA Pop. 63KCompare →	+5.6%	$3,488/mo	+31.1%	↑40 from #49
10	AmherstMA Pop. 38KCompare →	+5.1%	$2,999/mo	--	↓7 from #3
11	HudsonMA Pop. 16KCompare →	+5.0%	$2,558/mo	--	--
12	BrocktonMA Pop. 105KCompare →	+5.0%	$2,289/mo	--	↓8 from #4
13	NeedhamMA Pop. 32KCompare →	+4.3%	$3,702/mo	--	↑19 from #32
14	WakefieldMA Pop. 28KCompare →	+4.1%	$2,827/mo	--	↑30 from #44
15	FranklinMA Pop. 33KCompare →	+4.0%	$2,534/mo	+30.6%	↑24 from #39
16	NewburyportMA Pop. 19KCompare →	+4.0%	$3,028/mo	--	↓14 from #2
17	AttleboroMA Pop. 47KCompare →	+4.0%	$2,366/mo	--	same
18	StonehamMA Pop. 23KCompare →	+3.9%	$3,055/mo	--	↑32 from #50
19	MelroseMA Pop. 30KCompare →	+3.7%	$3,031/mo	+29.2%	↑7 from #26
20	WestfieldMA Pop. 40KCompare →	+3.6%	$1,950/mo	--	--
21	LynnMA Pop. 102KCompare →	+3.6%	$2,342/mo	+31.3%	↑3 from #24
22	SomervilleMA Pop. 81KCompare →	+3.6%	$3,428/mo	+30.5%	↑1 from #23
23	MethuenMA Pop. 53KCompare →	+3.4%	$2,352/mo	--	↑28 from #51
24	CambridgeMA Pop. 119KCompare →	+3.4%	$3,438/mo	+24.5%	↑10 from #34
25	BurlingtonMA Pop. 26KCompare →	+3.3%	$3,153/mo	--	↑23 from #48
26	GardnerMA Pop. 21KCompare →	+3.2%	$1,676/mo	--	--
27	BelmontMA Pop. 27KCompare →	+3.2%	$3,051/mo	--	↓9 from #18
28	ArlingtonMA Pop. 46KCompare →	+3.1%	$2,925/mo	+27.8%	↑3 from #31
29	New BedfordMA Pop. 101KCompare →	+3.0%	$1,811/mo	--	↓28 from #1
30	NewtonMA Pop. 89KCompare →	+3.0%	$3,358/mo	+28.9%	↓17 from #13
31	HolyokeMA Pop. 38KCompare →	+2.8%	$1,663/mo	--	--
32	BostonMA Pop. 666KCompare →	+2.8%	$3,271/mo	+27.9%	↓7 from #25
33	MedfordMA Pop. 59KCompare →	+2.8%	$3,626/mo	+29.6%	↓19 from #14
34	MaldenMA Pop. 66KCompare →	+2.8%	$2,929/mo	+26.6%	↓23 from #11
35	WatertownMA Pop. 36KCompare →	+2.6%	$3,101/mo	+25.1%	↓5 from #30
36	EverettMA Pop. 50KCompare →	+2.6%	$2,803/mo	+24.0%	↑4 from #40
37	Fall RiverMA Pop. 94KCompare →	+2.4%	$1,888/mo	+39.0%	↓28 from #9
38	BarnstableMA Pop. 50KCompare →	+2.4%	$2,894/mo	--	↓31 from #7
39	LeominsterMA Pop. 44KCompare →	+2.4%	$1,885/mo	--	↓27 from #12
40	PittsfieldMA Pop. 43KCompare →	+2.3%	$1,545/mo	--	↓30 from #10
41	LawrenceMA Pop. 89KCompare →	+2.3%	$2,372/mo	+35.7%	↓6 from #35
42	PeabodyMA Pop. 55KCompare →	+2.2%	$2,836/mo	--	↓1 from #41
43	SalemMA Pop. 45KCompare →	+2.1%	$2,683/mo	+26.4%	↓15 from #28
44	ChelseaMA Pop. 40KCompare →	+2.1%	$2,632/mo	+24.7%	↓11 from #33
45	DanversMA Pop. 28KCompare →	+2.1%	$2,825/mo	--	↓24 from #21
46	WalthamMA Pop. 65KCompare →	+2.1%	$2,930/mo	+22.4%	↓3 from #43
47	WeymouthMA Pop. 59KCompare →	+1.9%	$2,553/mo	+23.4%	↓18 from #29
48	LowellMA Pop. 118KCompare →	+1.9%	$2,252/mo	+30.5%	↓32 from #16
49	MarbleheadMA Pop. 20KCompare →	+1.9%	$2,967/mo	--	--
50	WoburnMA Pop. 42KCompare →	+1.9%	$2,844/mo	+21.5%	↓5 from #45