ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02136

Part of Boston, MA

Pop. 37,265·Suffolk County·77th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,806/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.5%

Month-over-Month

+1.9%

vs US Median

+$874

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02136 · $2,806

More expensive than 87% 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

$2,070

1 BR

$2,170

2 BR

$2,580

3 BR

$3,090

4 BR+

$3,420

Research median

$2,580/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 02136 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 02136 changed +8.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($96,737) is $2,418 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,170); a 2-bedroom is $2,580.

Rank in Boston

1st cheapest of 25 ZIP codes in Boston.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02170, 6 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,266/mo), about $6,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02136. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$33,672/yr

At $2,806/mo median

Location

CityBoston

StateMA

CountySuffolk County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.5% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02136 (Boston, MA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 35.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,265

Median income

$96,737

Median age

37.8

Renters

46.8%

Age distribution

21.8%

23.4%

25.4%

17.6%

Under 1821.8%

18–3423.4%

35–5425.4%

55–6411.8%

65+17.6%

Gender

45.6%

54.4%

Male45.6%

Female54.4%

Race & ethnicity

26.3%

46.2%

28%

White26.3%

Black46.2%

Hispanic28%

Asian1.7%

Education (25+)

26.1%

27.4%

35.8%

No HS diploma10.7%

HS diploma26.1%

Some college27.4%

Bachelor's+35.8%

Housing tenure

53.2%

46.8%

Owner53.2%

Renter46.8%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 02136 in Boston, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,268 → $2,806

up 23.7%

Income

$81,859 → $96,737

up 18.2%

Population

40,947 → 37,265

down 9.0%

Renter share

46.7% → 46.8%

+0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

31.9% → 35.8%

+3.9 pts

Median age

38.3 → 37.8

-0.5 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 02136 in Boston, MA has shifted from $2,268 to $2,806, up 23.7% since 2023. Median household income climbed from $81,859 to $96,737 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.2% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 02136 in Boston, MA losing about 3,682 residents over the five-year window, down 9.0% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 31.9% to 35.8% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 02136 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.

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About renting in ZIP 02136

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02136 covers Boston, MA. The median rent here is $2,806/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,170/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,580/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($96,737/yr), ZIP 02136 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02136?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $112,000/year (about $54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,806/mo in ZIP 02136. The local median household income is $96,737/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02136?

Rent in ZIP 02136 has risen 8.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.

How does ZIP 02136 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02136 is in the middle among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #77 of 164 at $2,806/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02136 changed +8.5%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.