ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02144

Pop. 25,448·Middlesex County·2nd most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts
Median rent (all units)
$4,065/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.7%
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
+$2,133
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 02144 · $4,065
More expensive than 98% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,920
1 BR
$3,060
2 BR
$3,640
3 BR
$4,360
4 BR+
$4,820
Research median
$3,640/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

December. Asking rents in ZIP 02144 usually run 5.3% below trend in December and 4.8% above it in May, about $411 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 02144 is 0.3% below its high of $4,078 in August 2026, at $4,065 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 02144 changed +4.7% 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 02144 rose 26.4% while median household income rose 31.9% ($113,958 to $150,313). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 02144 is 34.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($150,313) is $3,758 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,640); a 3-bedroom is $4,360.

Rank in Somerville

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Somerville.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02140, 1 mile away, rents for 17% less ($3,360/mo), about $8,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02144. 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
$48,780/yr
At $4,065/mo median
Location
StateMA
CountyMiddlesex County
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.7% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02144 (Somerville, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 75.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
25,448
Median income
$150,313
Median age
31.8
Renters
63.4%
Age distribution
49.2%
24.8%
Under 189.3%
18–3449.2%
35–5424.8%
55–647%
65+9.8%
Gender
48.5%
51.5%
Male48.5%
Female51.5%
Race & ethnicity
76%
White76%
Black2.5%
Hispanic6.9%
Asian10.8%
Other3.9%
Education (25+)
75.5%
No HS diploma3.1%
HS diploma11.2%
Some college10.1%
Bachelor's+75.5%
Housing tenure
36.6%
63.4%
Owner36.6%
Renter63.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02144 in Somerville, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,879 → $4,065
up 41.2%
Income
$117,601 → $150,313
up 27.8%
Population
25,367 → 25,448
up 0.3%
Renter share
64.9% → 63.4%
-1.5 pts
Bachelor's+
74.3% → 75.5%
+1.2 pts
Median age
31 → 31.8
+0.8 yrs

Rent in ZIP 02144 in Somerville, MA has climbed 41.2% since 2021, going from about $2,879 per month to roughly $4,065 today. Household income in the area moved from $117,601 to $150,313 across the same window, up 27.8% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 63.4% of households rent today, against 64.9% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 02144 in Somerville, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 02144

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02144 covers Somerville, MA. The median rent here is $4,065/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,060/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,640/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($150,313/yr), ZIP 02144 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02144?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $163,000/year (about $78/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,065/mo in ZIP 02144. The local median household income is $150,313/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02144?

Rent in ZIP 02144 has risen 4.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $4,078 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 02144?

Asking rents in ZIP 02144 are usually lowest in December, about 5.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 4.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $411 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 02144?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 02144 rose 26.4% while median household income rose 31.9%, from $113,958 to $150,313. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 02144 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02144 is one of the pricier among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #2 of 164 at $4,065/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02144 changed +4.7%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 02144 compare to the rest of Somerville?

At $4,065/mo, ZIP 02144 is $637 above the Somerville citywide median of $3,428/mo. It is the 3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Somerville.
Income Affordability
32%
MODERATE

At $4,065/mo, rent takes ~32% of ZIP 02144's median household income ($150,313/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 02144 32%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5%
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Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 02144 (Somerville, MA)

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