ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01821

Part of Billerica, MA

Pop. 30,143·Middlesex County·85th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,746/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.3%

Month-over-Month

-0.5%

vs US Median

+$814

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01821 · $2,746

More expensive than 85% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,040

1 BR

$2,240

2 BR

$2,940

3 BR

$3,530

4 BR+

$3,890

Research median

$2,940/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 01821 is 0.8% below its high of $2,769 in December 2024, at $2,746 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 01821 changed +0.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($149,042) is $3,726 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,530); a 4-bedroom is $3,890.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 01852, 6 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,179/mo), about $6,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01821. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$32,952/yr

At $2,746/mo median

Location

CityBillerica

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.3% YoY, -0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01821 (Billerica, MA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 40.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,143

Median income

$149,042

Median age

44.3

Renters

17.8%

Age distribution

17.4%

20.8%

25.9%

16.6%

19.3%

Under 1817.4%

18–3420.8%

35–5425.9%

55–6416.6%

65+19.3%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

79.8%

White79.8%

Black2.7%

Hispanic3.5%

Asian10.1%

Other3.9%

Education (25+)

26.4%

28.2%

40.2%

No HS diploma5.3%

HS diploma26.4%

Some college28.2%

Bachelor's+40.2%

Housing tenure

82.2%

17.8%

Owner82.2%

Renter17.8%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 01821 in Billerica, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,452 → $2,746

up 12.0%

Income

$126,146 → $149,042

up 18.2%

Population

31,499 → 30,143

down 4.3%

Renter share

20.8% → 17.8%

-3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

40.8% → 40.2%

-0.6 pts

Median age

42 → 44.3

+2.3 yrs

Rent in ZIP 01821 in Billerica, MA has climbed 12.0% since 2022, going from about $2,452 per month to roughly $2,746 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $126,146 in 2021 to $149,042 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 6.2 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 31,499 to 30,143 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.3% change. About 17.8% of households rent today, against 20.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 01821 in Billerica, MA market of 2022.

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About renting in ZIP 01821

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01821 covers Billerica, MA. The median rent here is $2,746/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,240/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,940/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($149,042/yr), ZIP 01821 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01821?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $110,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,746/mo in ZIP 01821. The local median household income is $149,042/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 01821?

Rent in ZIP 01821 has been roughly flat over the past year as of September 2026, a +0.3% change. It sits 0.8% below its high of $2,769 in December 2024.

How does ZIP 01821 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 01821 is in the middle among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #85 of 164 at $2,746/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 01821 changed +0.3%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.