RentDataNowRentDataNow
ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02120

Part of Boston, MA
Pop. 15,283·Suffolk County·2nd most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts
Median rent (all units)
$4,260/mo
Year-over-Year
-16.8%
Month-over-Month
+0.6%
vs US Median
+$2,298
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss 02120 rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 02120 · $4,260
More expensive than 98% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,962/mo
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,290
1 BR
$2,410
2 BR
$2,860
3 BR
$3,430
4 BR+
$3,790
Research median
$2,860/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$51,120/yr
At $4,260/mo median
Location
CityBoston
StateMA
CountySuffolk County
Rent Market Meter
Strong Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are down 16.8% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (-16.8% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02120 (Boston, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 45.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
15,283
Median income
$64,289
Median age
23.6
Renters
90.8%
Age distribution
64%
13.1%
Under 188.7%
18–3464%
35–5413.1%
55–647.7%
65+6.5%
Gender
49.1%
50.9%
Male49.1%
Female50.9%
Race & ethnicity
38.7%
17.2%
20.4%
20.4%
White38.7%
Black17.2%
Hispanic20.4%
Asian20.4%
Other3.3%
Education (25+)
20.2%
16.4%
17.6%
45.7%
No HS diploma20.2%
HS diploma16.4%
Some college17.6%
Bachelor's+45.7%
Housing tenure
90.8%
Owner9.2%
Renter90.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02120 in Boston, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$3,274 → $4,260
up 30.1%
Income
$50,728 → $64,289
up 26.7%
Population
15,082 → 15,283
up 1.3%
Renter share
90.4% → 90.8%
+0.4 pts
Bachelor's+
42.2% → 45.7%
+3.5 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 02120 in Boston, MA has climbed by $986 per month, settling near $4,260 after starting the period at $3,274. Median household income grew from $50,728 to $64,289 between 2021 and 2024, a 26.7% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 3.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 15,082 to 15,283 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 42.2% to 45.7%. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 02120 in Boston, MA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 02120

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 02120

About renting in ZIP 02120

Last updated: August 17, 2026

ZIP code 02120 covers Boston, MA. The median rent here is $4,260/mo as of August 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,410/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,860/mo.

At 80% of local median household income ($64,289/yr), ZIP 02120 ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 16.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 02120?

As of August 17, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 02120 (Boston, MA) is $4,260. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 02120 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 02120's median rent of $4,260/mo is $2,298 (117%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo.

How does ZIP 02120 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02120 is one of the pricier ZIP codes in Massachusetts, ranking #2 out of 171 ZIPs tracked at $4,260/mo.

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02120?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $170,000/year (~$82/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,260/mo in ZIP 02120. The local median household income is $64,289/yr, meaning the typical household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02120?

Rent in ZIP 02120 has decreased 16.8% over the past year as of August 17, 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Is ZIP 02120 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 02120 is considered expensive for renters. At $4,260/mo, rent takes approximately 80% of the local median household income ($64,289/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 02120 significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

What percentage of ZIP 02120 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 90.8% of ZIP 02120 households are renters, while 9.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, ZIP 02120 has a strong rental market.

How does ZIP 02120 compare to the rest of Boston?

ZIP 02120 is pricier than Boston as a whole. At $4,260/mo, it's $846 above the Boston citywide median of $3,414/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 02120 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 02120 reflects August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
80%
EXPENSIVE

At $4,260/mo, rent takes ~80% of ZIP 02120's median household income ($64,289/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 02120 80%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5%
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 02120 (Boston, MA)

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google