ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 01863

Part of Chelmsford, MA

Pop. 9,796·Middlesex County·81st most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,787/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$855

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 01863 · $2,787

More expensive than 86% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,540

1 BR

$1,700

2 BR

$2,230

3 BR

$2,670

4 BR+

$2,950

Research median

$2,230/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($144,875) is $3,622 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,950).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 01854, 2 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,219/mo), about $6,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 01863. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$33,444/yr

At $2,787/mo median

Location

CityChelmsford

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 01863 (Chelmsford, MA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 45.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

9,796

Median income

$144,875

Median age

41.2

Renters

18.2%

Age distribution

22.1%

19.8%

26.2%

15.1%

16.9%

Under 1822.1%

18–3419.8%

35–5426.2%

55–6415.1%

65+16.9%

Gender

50.2%

49.8%

Male50.2%

Female49.8%

Race & ethnicity

77.7%

White77.7%

Black2%

Hispanic6.9%

Asian10.7%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

18.9%

28.7%

45.1%

No HS diploma7.3%

HS diploma18.9%

Some college28.7%

Bachelor's+45.1%

Housing tenure

81.8%

18.2%

Owner81.8%

Renter18.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 01863 in Chelmsford, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$108,427 → $144,875

up 33.6%

Population

9,697 → 9,796

up 1.0%

Renter share

18% → 18.2%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

42.5% → 45.1%

+2.6 pts

Census figures show median household income at $144,875 today, compared with $108,427 five years earlier. Census counts show ZIP 01863 in Chelmsford, MA adding about 99 residents over the five-year window, up 1.0% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 42.5% to 45.1% across the same window.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 01863

About renting in ZIP 01863

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 01863 covers Chelmsford, MA. The median rent here is $2,787/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,700/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,230/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($144,875/yr), ZIP 01863 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 01863?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $111,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,787/mo in ZIP 01863. The local median household income is $144,875/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.