ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02109

Part of Boston, MA

Pop. 3,612·Suffolk County·8th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$3,757/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

+0.2%

vs US Median

+$1,825

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02109 · $3,757

More expensive than 97% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,540

1 BR

$3,710

2 BR

$4,410

3 BR

$5,290

4 BR+

$5,840

Research median

$4,410/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

Cheapest month to sign

March. Asking rents in ZIP 02109 usually run 1.7% below trend in March and 2.5% above it in July, about $158 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 02109 is 0.2% below its high of $3,766 in June 2026, at $3,757 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 02109 changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 02109 is 30.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($158,843) is $3,971 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($3,710); a 2-bedroom is $4,410.

Rank in Boston

21st cheapest of 25 ZIP codes in Boston.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02113, 1 mile away, rents for 24% less ($2,868/mo), about $10,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02109. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$45,084/yr

At $3,757/mo median

Location

CityBoston

StateMA

CountySuffolk County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02109 (Boston, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 85.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

3,612

Median income

$158,843

Median age

33.5

Renters

68.3%

Age distribution

46%

21.7%

12.5%

12.8%

Under 187.1%

18–3446%

35–5421.7%

55–6412.5%

65+12.8%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

82.4%

White82.4%

Black1.4%

Hispanic2.7%

Asian8.9%

Other4.6%

Education (25+)

85.7%

No HS diploma2.1%

HS diploma4.4%

Some college7.9%

Bachelor's+85.7%

Housing tenure

31.7%

68.3%

Owner31.7%

Renter68.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02109 in Boston, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,564 → $3,757

up 46.5%

Income

$156,351 → $158,843

up 1.6%

Population

3,627 → 3,612

down 0.4%

Renter share

60.1% → 68.3%

+8.2 pts

Bachelor's+

80% → 85.7%

+5.7 pts

Median age

35.6 → 33.5

-2.1 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 02109 in Boston, MA stood at $2,564 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,757, reflecting a 46.5% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 02109 in Boston, MA now reports about $158,843, up from $156,351 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 68.3% of households, compared with 60.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 85.7% of adults here, versus 80% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 02109 in Boston, MA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 02109

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02109 covers Boston, MA. The median rent here is $3,757/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,710/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $4,410/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($158,843/yr), ZIP 02109 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02109?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $150,000/year (about $72/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,757/mo in ZIP 02109. The local median household income is $158,843/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02109?

Rent in ZIP 02109 has risen 3.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $3,766 in June 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 02109?

Asking rents in ZIP 02109 are usually lowest in March, about 1.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 2.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $158 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 02109 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02109 is one of the pricier among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #8 of 164 at $3,757/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02109 changed +3.2%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.