ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01603

Part of Worcester, MA

Pop. 20,868·Worcester County·144th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,073/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$141

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01603 · $2,073

More expensive than 65% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,510

1 BR

$1,520

2 BR

$1,950

3 BR

$2,420

4 BR+

$2,680

Research median

$1,950/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 01603 changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($66,049) is $1,651 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,520); a 2-bedroom is $1,950.

Rank in Worcester

3rd cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Worcester.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 01562, 8 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,824/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01603. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$24,876/yr

At $2,073/mo median

Location

CityWorcester

StateMA

CountyWorcester County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.2% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01603 (Worcester, MA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 24.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,868

Median income

$66,049

Median age

35.1

Renters

50.5%

Age distribution

19%

30.9%

25%

12.2%

13%

Under 1819%

18–3430.9%

35–5425%

55–6412.2%

65+13%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

50.3%

25.3%

12.5%

White50.3%

Black10.7%

Hispanic25.3%

Asian12.5%

Other1.2%

Education (25+)

16.1%

29%

30.8%

24.1%

No HS diploma16.1%

HS diploma29%

Some college30.8%

Bachelor's+24.1%

Housing tenure

49.5%

50.5%

Owner49.5%

Renter50.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 01603 in Worcester, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$53,166 → $66,049

up 24.2%

Population

20,184 → 20,868

up 3.4%

Renter share

51.5% → 50.5%

-1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

21.2% → 24.1%

+2.9 pts

Median age

35.7 → 35.1

-0.6 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 01603 in Worcester, MA now reports about $66,049, up from $53,166 in 2021. The population has grown by 3.4% since 2021, moving from about 20,184 residents to roughly 20,868. College-educated residents now make up 24.1% of adults here, versus 21.2% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 01603

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 01603

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01603 covers Worcester, MA. The median rent here is $2,073/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,520/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,950/mo.

At 38% of local median household income ($66,049/yr), ZIP 01603 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01603?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $83,000/year (about $40/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,073/mo in ZIP 01603. The local median household income is $66,049/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 01603?

Rent in ZIP 01603 has risen 5.2% over the past year.

How does ZIP 01603 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 01603 is one of the more affordable among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #144 of 164 at $2,073/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 01603 changed +5.2%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.