ZIP 02140
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 02140 usually run 3.4% below trend in December and 2.9% above it in June, about $212 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 02140 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2017.
Rent in ZIP 02140 changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 02140 rose 20.4% while median household income rose 30.4% ($103,738 to $135,286). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 02140 is 23.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($135,286) is $3,382 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($3,070); a 2-bedroom is $3,650.
2nd cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Cambridge.
ZIP 02474, 2 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,676/mo), about $8,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02140. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 02140 (Cambridge, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 79.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 02140 in Cambridge, MA has changed in 5 years
Rent in ZIP 02140 in Cambridge, MA has climbed 35.6% since 2021, going from about $2,477 per month to roughly $3,360 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $119,827 in 2021 to $135,286 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 22.7 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 20,060 to 21,204 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.7% change. About 65.1% of households rent today, against 66.7% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 02140 in Cambridge, MA market of 2021.
Discussions about ZIP 02140
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Tips for renters in ZIP 02140
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 02140 covers Cambridge, MA. The median rent here is $3,360/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,070/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,650/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($135,286/yr), ZIP 02140 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02140?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02140?
When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 02140?
Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 02140?
How does ZIP 02140 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?
How does ZIP 02140 compare to the rest of Cambridge?
At $3,360/mo, rent takes ~30% of ZIP 02140's median household income ($135,286/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.
No discussions yet.