ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02451

Part of Waltham, MA

Pop. 17,393·Middlesex County·24th most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$3,271/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.0%

vs US Median

+$1,339

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02451 · $3,271

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

$2,820

1 BR

$2,960

2 BR

$3,520

3 BR

$4,220

4 BR+

$4,660

Research median

$3,520/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 02451 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 02451 changed +4.2% 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 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($122,335) is $3,058 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,960); a 2-bedroom is $3,520.

Rank in Waltham

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Waltham.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 02453, 2 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,806/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02451. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$39,252/yr

At $3,271/mo median

Location

CityWaltham

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.2% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02451 (Waltham, MA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 56% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

17,393

Median income

$122,335

Median age

40.3

Renters

40.7%

Age distribution

14.5%

26.1%

26.4%

14.3%

18.8%

Under 1814.5%

18–3426.1%

35–5426.4%

55–6414.3%

65+18.8%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

56.7%

15.2%

17%

White56.7%

Black8.7%

Hispanic15.2%

Asian17%

Other2.4%

Education (25+)

21.1%

17.5%

56%

No HS diploma5.4%

HS diploma21.1%

Some college17.5%

Bachelor's+56%

Housing tenure

59.3%

40.7%

Owner59.3%

Renter40.7%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 02451 in Waltham, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,883 → $3,271

up 13.5%

Income

$109,021 → $122,335

up 12.2%

Population

17,965 → 17,393

down 3.2%

Renter share

40% → 40.7%

+0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

53.4% → 56%

+2.6 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 02451 in Waltham, MA paid around $2,883 a month. That figure now sits near $3,271, up 13.5% from the 2023 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $122,335 today, compared with $109,021 five years earlier. Census counts show ZIP 02451 in Waltham, MA losing about 572 residents over the five-year window, down 3.2% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 53.4% to 56% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 02451

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02451 covers Waltham, MA. The median rent here is $3,271/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,960/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,520/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($122,335/yr), ZIP 02451 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02451?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $131,000/year (about $63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,271/mo in ZIP 02451. The local median household income is $122,335/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02451?

Rent in ZIP 02451 has risen 4.2% 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 02451 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02451 is one of the pricier among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #24 of 164 at $3,271/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02451 changed +4.2%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.