ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01604

Part of Worcester, MA

Pop. 39,812·Worcester County·141st most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,175/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

+$243

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01604 · $2,175

More expensive than 69% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,740

1 BR

$1,750

2 BR

$2,250

3 BR

$2,790

4 BR+

$3,090

Research median

$2,250/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

Cheapest month to sign

April. Asking rents in ZIP 01604 usually run 0.9% below trend in April and 1.3% above it in August, about $48 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 01604 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 01604 changed +10.0% 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 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,505) is $1,838 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,750); a 2-bedroom is $2,250.

Rank in Worcester

5th cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Worcester.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 01608, 2 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,875/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01604. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$26,100/yr

At $2,175/mo median

Location

CityWorcester

StateMA

CountyWorcester County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.0% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01604 (Worcester, MA) is majority renter-occupied, 32.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

39,812

Median income

$73,505

Median age

37.4

Renters

55.9%

Age distribution

19.7%

26.6%

25.4%

12.8%

15.5%

Under 1819.7%

18–3426.6%

35–5425.4%

55–6412.8%

65+15.5%

Gender

51.6%

48.4%

Male51.6%

Female48.4%

Race & ethnicity

54.2%

13.9%

19.6%

White54.2%

Black13.9%

Hispanic19.6%

Asian8.1%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

14%

30.2%

23%

32.8%

No HS diploma14%

HS diploma30.2%

Some college23%

Bachelor's+32.8%

Housing tenure

44.1%

55.9%

Owner44.1%

Renter55.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 01604 in Worcester, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,388 → $2,175

up 56.7%

Income

$63,107 → $73,505

up 16.5%

Population

40,961 → 39,812

down 2.8%

Renter share

56.1% → 55.9%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

30.8% → 32.8%

+2.0 pts

Median age

35.9 → 37.4

+1.5 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 01604 in Worcester, MA stood at $1,388 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,175, reflecting a 56.7% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $73,505 today, compared with $63,107 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.8% since 2021, moving from about 40,961 residents to roughly 39,812. College-educated residents now make up 32.8% of adults here, versus 30.8% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 01604

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01604 covers Worcester, MA. The median rent here is $2,175/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,750/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,250/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($73,505/yr), ZIP 01604 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01604?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $87,000/year (about $42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,175/mo in ZIP 01604. The local median household income is $73,505/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 01604?

Rent in ZIP 01604 has risen 10.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 01604?

Asking rents in ZIP 01604 are usually lowest in April, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.3% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $48 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 01604 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 01604 is one of the more affordable among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #141 of 164 at $2,175/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 01604 changed +10.0%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.