ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01605

Part of Worcester, MA

Pop. 30,579·Worcester County·130th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,272/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.5%

vs US Median

+$340

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01605 · $2,272

More expensive than 73% 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

$1,650

1 BR

$1,660

2 BR

$2,130

3 BR

$2,640

4 BR+

$2,930

Research median

$2,130/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 01605 is 3% below its high of $2,343 in February 2026, at $2,272 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 01605 changed -1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 7 months in a row, and rose in 3 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($54,642) is $1,366 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,650).

Rank in Worcester

8th cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Worcester.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 01608, 2 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,875/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01605. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$27,264/yr

At $2,272/mo median

Location

CityWorcester

StateMA

CountyWorcester County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 1.4% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.4% YoY, -0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01605 (Worcester, MA) is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 33.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,579

Median income

$54,642

Median age

Renters

69.7%

Age distribution

26.6%

28.4%

21.9%

13.8%

Under 1826.6%

18–3428.4%

35–5421.9%

55–649.4%

65+13.8%

Gender

47.2%

52.8%

Male47.2%

Female52.8%

Race & ethnicity

45.8%

14.4%

36.1%

White45.8%

Black14.4%

Hispanic36.1%

Asian4.4%

Education (25+)

14.1%

30.7%

21.9%

33.4%

No HS diploma14.1%

HS diploma30.7%

Some college21.9%

Bachelor's+33.4%

Housing tenure

30.3%

69.7%

Owner30.3%

Renter69.7%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 01605 in Worcester, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,029 → $2,272

up 12.0%

Income

$45,709 → $54,642

up 19.5%

Population

30,353 → 30,579

up 0.7%

Renter share

71.3% → 69.7%

-1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

27.3% → 33.4%

+6.1 pts

Median age

32.5 → 32

-0.5 yrs

Since 2023, the typical rent in ZIP 01605 in Worcester, MA has climbed from $2,029 to $2,272, a 12.0% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 01605 in Worcester, MA now reports about $54,642, up from $45,709 in 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. Renters now make up 69.7% of households, compared with 71.3% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 33.4% of adults here, versus 27.3% in 2021. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 01605 in Worcester, MA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 01605

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01605 covers Worcester, MA. The median rent here is $2,272/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,660/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,130/mo.

At 50% of local median household income ($54,642/yr), ZIP 01605 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01605?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $91,000/year (about $44/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,272/mo in ZIP 01605. The local median household income is $54,642/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 01605?

Rent in ZIP 01605 has fallen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 3% below its high of $2,343 in February 2026.

How does ZIP 01605 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 01605 is one of the more affordable among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #130 of 164 at $2,272/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 01605 changed -1.4%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.