ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02121

Part of Boston, MA

Pop. 29,040·Suffolk County·28th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$3,228/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.0%

vs US Median

+$1,296

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02121 · $3,228

More expensive than 93% 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

$2,040

1 BR

$2,160

2 BR

$2,560

3 BR

$3,080

4 BR+

$3,390

Research median

$2,560/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 02121 changed +1.2% 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 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($43,136) is $1,078 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,040).

Rank in Boston

15th cheapest of 25 ZIP codes in Boston.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02131, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,874/mo), about $4,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02121. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$38,736/yr

At $3,228/mo median

Location

CityBoston

StateMA

CountySuffolk County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.2% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02121 (Boston, MA) is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 19.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

29,040

Median income

$43,136

Median age

34.3

Renters

76.8%

Age distribution

26.9%

23.9%

24.7%

12.4%

12.1%

Under 1826.9%

18–3423.9%

35–5424.7%

55–6412.4%

65+12.1%

Gender

44.3%

55.7%

Male44.3%

Female55.7%

Race & ethnicity

44.6%

40.9%

White7.5%

Black44.6%

Hispanic40.9%

Asian2%

Other4.9%

Education (25+)

23.8%

31.1%

25.2%

19.9%

No HS diploma23.8%

HS diploma31.1%

Some college25.2%

Bachelor's+19.9%

Housing tenure

23.2%

76.8%

Owner23.2%

Renter76.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02121 in Boston, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$40,732 → $43,136

up 5.9%

Population

29,888 → 29,040

down 2.8%

Renter share

76.7% → 76.8%

+0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

21.2% → 19.9%

-1.3 pts

Median age

33.3 → 34.3

+1.0 yrs

Median household income grew from $40,732 to $43,136 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.9% shift. Headcount in the area went from 29,888 to 29,040 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.8% change.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 02121

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 02121

About renting in ZIP 02121

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02121 covers Boston, MA. The median rent here is $3,228/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,160/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,560/mo.

At 90% of local median household income ($43,136/yr), ZIP 02121 ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02121?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $129,000/year (about $62/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,228/mo in ZIP 02121. The local median household income is $43,136/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02121?

Rent in ZIP 02121 has risen 1.2% over the past year.

How does ZIP 02121 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02121 is one of the pricier among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #28 of 164 at $3,228/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02121 changed +1.2%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.