ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02421

Part of Lexington, MA

Pop. 18,080·Middlesex County·25th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$3,253/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-2.0%

vs US Median

+$1,321

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02421 · $3,253

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

$2,531

1 BR

$2,659

2 BR

$3,155

3 BR

$3,786

4 BR+

$4,176

Research median

$3,155/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($227,813) is $5,695 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($5,560).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02452, 3 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,781/mo), about $5,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02421. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$39,036/yr

At $3,253/mo median

Location

CityLexington

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -2.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02421 (Lexington, MA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 83.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,080

Median income

$227,813

Median age

48.2

Renters

24.1%

Age distribution

25.4%

30.2%

14.3%

22.8%

Under 1825.4%

18–347.4%

35–5430.2%

55–6414.3%

65+22.8%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

55.5%

35.7%

White55.5%

Black1.4%

Hispanic3%

Asian35.7%

Other4.5%

Education (25+)

83.2%

No HS diploma4%

HS diploma5.4%

Some college7.3%

Bachelor's+83.2%

Housing tenure

75.9%

24.1%

Owner75.9%

Renter24.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02421 in Lexington, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$191,140 → $227,813

up 19.2%

Population

18,784 → 18,080

down 3.7%

Renter share

23% → 24.1%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

84.5% → 83.2%

-1.3 pts

Median age

47.1 → 48.2

+1.1 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 02421 in Lexington, MA now reports about $227,813, up from $191,140 in 2021. Census counts show ZIP 02421 in Lexington, MA losing about 704 residents over the five-year window, down 3.7% on net.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 02421

About renting in ZIP 02421

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02421 covers Lexington, MA. The median rent here is $3,253/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,659/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,155/mo.

At 17% of local median household income ($227,813/yr), ZIP 02421 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02421?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $130,000/year (about $63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,253/mo in ZIP 02421. The local median household income is $227,813/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.