ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01824

Part of Chelmsford, MA

Pop. 26,650·Middlesex County·97th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,655/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$723

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01824 · $2,655

More expensive than 83% 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

$2,210

2 BR

$2,900

3 BR

$3,480

4 BR+

$3,840

Research median

$2,900/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 01824 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 01824 changed +2.9% 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 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($140,050) is $3,501 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,480); a 4-bedroom is $3,840.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 01851, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,361/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01824. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$31,860/yr

At $2,655/mo median

Location

CityChelmsford

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01824 (Chelmsford, MA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 55.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,650

Median income

$140,050

Median age

41.8

Renters

17.7%

Age distribution

21.5%

19%

27.3%

13.7%

18.5%

Under 1821.5%

18–3419%

35–5427.3%

55–6413.7%

65+18.5%

Gender

48.1%

51.9%

Male48.1%

Female51.9%

Race & ethnicity

78.3%

White78.3%

Black1.9%

Hispanic5.8%

Asian10.8%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

16%

22.6%

55.6%

No HS diploma5.8%

HS diploma16%

Some college22.6%

Bachelor's+55.6%

Housing tenure

82.3%

17.7%

Owner82.3%

Renter17.7%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 01824 in Chelmsford, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,155 → $2,655

up 23.2%

Income

$130,215 → $140,050

up 7.6%

Population

26,574 → 26,650

up 0.3%

Renter share

16.5% → 17.7%

+1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

57.3% → 55.6%

-1.7 pts

Median age

42.9 → 41.8

-1.1 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 01824 in Chelmsford, MA paid around $2,155 a month. That figure now sits near $2,655, up 23.2% from the 2022 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $130,215 to $140,050 across the same window, up 7.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 01824 in Chelmsford, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 01824

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01824 covers Chelmsford, MA. The median rent here is $2,655/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,210/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,900/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($140,050/yr), ZIP 01824 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01824?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $106,000/year (about $51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,655/mo in ZIP 01824. The local median household income is $140,050/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 01824?

Rent in ZIP 01824 has risen 3.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

How does ZIP 01824 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 01824 is in the middle among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #97 of 164 at $2,655/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 01824 changed +2.9%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.