ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01851

Part of Lowell, MA

Pop. 33,403·Middlesex County·120th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,361/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.2%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$429

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01851 · $2,361

More expensive than 76% 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

$1,570

1 BR

$1,730

2 BR

$2,270

3 BR

$2,720

4 BR+

$3,010

Research median

$2,270/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 01851 changed +4.2% 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 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($92,401) is $2,310 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,270); a 3-bedroom is $2,720.

Rank in Lowell

4th cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Lowell.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01851. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$28,332/yr

At $2,361/mo median

Location

CityLowell

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.2% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01851 (Lowell, MA) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 30.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

33,403

Median income

$92,401

Median age

36.4

Renters

56.3%

Age distribution

21.6%

25.7%

28.3%

12.9%

Under 1821.6%

18–3425.7%

35–5428.3%

55–6412.9%

65+11.5%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

33.5%

13%

41.4%

White33.5%

Black9.2%

Hispanic13%

Asian41.4%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

20.8%

30.3%

18.7%

30.2%

No HS diploma20.8%

HS diploma30.3%

Some college18.7%

Bachelor's+30.2%

Housing tenure

43.7%

56.3%

Owner43.7%

Renter56.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 01851 in Lowell, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$72,133 → $92,401

up 28.1%

Population

32,469 → 33,403

up 2.9%

Renter share

57.6% → 56.3%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

29.9% → 30.2%

+0.3 pts

Median age

35.3 → 36.4

+1.1 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $92,401 today, compared with $72,133 five years earlier. The population has grown by 2.9% since 2021, moving from about 32,469 residents to roughly 33,403.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 01851

About renting in ZIP 01851

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01851 covers Lowell, MA. The median rent here is $2,361/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,730/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,270/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($92,401/yr), ZIP 01851 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01851?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $94,000/year (about $45/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,361/mo in ZIP 01851. The local median household income is $92,401/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 01851?

Rent in ZIP 01851 has risen 4.2% over the past year.

How does ZIP 01851 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 01851 is one of the more affordable among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #120 of 164 at $2,361/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 01851 changed +4.2%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.