ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02141

Pop. 14,517·Middlesex County·14th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts
Median rent (all units)
$3,650/mo
Year-over-Year
+7.5%
Month-over-Month
+1.9%
vs US Median
+$1,718
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 02141 · $3,650
More expensive than 96% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$3,050
1 BR
$3,200
2 BR
$3,800
3 BR
$4,560
4 BR+
$5,030
Research median
$3,800/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 02141 usually run 2.9% below trend in January and 2.9% above it in June, about $212 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 02141 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 02141 changed +7.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 02141 rose 23.5% while median household income rose 50.4% ($84,142 to $126,522). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 02141 is 29.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($126,522) is $3,163 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($3,050); a 1-bedroom is $3,200.

Rank in Cambridge

4th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Cambridge.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02143, 1 mile away, rents for 13% less ($3,176/mo), about $5,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02141. 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
$43,800/yr
At $3,650/mo median
Location
StateMA
CountyMiddlesex County
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 7.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+7.5% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02141 (Cambridge, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 74.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,517
Median income
$126,522
Median age
31.2
Renters
74.5%
Age distribution
51.2%
24%
Under 189.5%
18–3451.2%
35–5424%
55–646.3%
65+9%
Gender
49.7%
50.3%
Male49.7%
Female50.3%
Race & ethnicity
57.8%
22.1%
White57.8%
Black7.7%
Hispanic11.4%
Asian22.1%
Other1.1%
Education (25+)
74.1%
No HS diploma6.4%
HS diploma8%
Some college11.5%
Bachelor's+74.1%
Housing tenure
25.5%
74.5%
Owner25.5%
Renter74.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02141 in Cambridge, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,546 → $3,650
up 43.4%
Income
$96,563 → $126,522
up 31.0%
Population
13,953 → 14,517
up 4.0%
Renter share
70.6% → 74.5%
+3.9 pts
Bachelor's+
72.8% → 74.1%
+1.3 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 02141 in Cambridge, MA has climbed from $2,546 to $3,650, a 43.4% change over five years. Median household income rose from $96,563 to $126,522 between 2021 and 2024, a 31.0% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.0% since 2021, moving from about 13,953 residents to roughly 14,517. Renters now make up 74.5% of households, compared with 70.6% five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 02141 in Cambridge, 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 02141

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02141 covers Cambridge, MA. The median rent here is $3,650/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,200/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,800/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($126,522/yr), ZIP 02141 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02141?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $146,000/year (about $70/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,650/mo in ZIP 02141. The local median household income is $126,522/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02141?

Rent in ZIP 02141 has risen 7.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 02141?

Asking rents in ZIP 02141 are usually lowest in January, about 2.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 2.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $212 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 02141?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 02141 rose 23.5% while median household income rose 50.4%, from $84,142 to $126,522. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 02141 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02141 is one of the pricier among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #14 of 164 at $3,650/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02141 changed +7.5%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 02141 compare to the rest of Cambridge?

At $3,650/mo, ZIP 02141 is $212 above the Cambridge citywide median of $3,438/mo. It is the 4th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Cambridge.
Income Affordability
35%
MODERATE

At $3,650/mo, rent takes ~35% of ZIP 02141's median household income ($126,522/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 02141 35%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5%
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Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 02141 (Cambridge, MA)

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