ZIP Code · MA

ZIP 02452

Part of Waltham, MA

Pop. 15,808·Middlesex County·82nd most expensive ZIP in Massachusetts

Median rent (all units)

$2,781/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-0.5%

vs US Median

+$849

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 02452 · $2,781

More expensive than 86% 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

$2,570

1 BR

$2,690

2 BR

$3,200

3 BR

$3,840

4 BR+

$4,240

Research median

$3,200/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

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in ZIP 02452 changed 0.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($118,431) is $2,961 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,690); a 2-bedroom is $3,200.

Rank in Waltham

1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Waltham.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02452. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$33,372/yr

At $2,781/mo median

Location

CityWaltham

StateMA

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.0% YoY, -0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 02452 (Waltham, MA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 53.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

15,808

Median income

$118,431

Median age

31.6

Renters

48.9%

Age distribution

43.3%

19.4%

16.2%

Under 1811.4%

18–3443.3%

35–5419.4%

55–649.7%

65+16.2%

Gender

48.1%

51.9%

Male48.1%

Female51.9%

Race & ethnicity

64.5%

12.3%

White64.5%

Black10.7%

Hispanic12.3%

Asian10.1%

Other2.4%

Education (25+)

17%

20.6%

53.8%

No HS diploma8.6%

HS diploma17%

Some college20.6%

Bachelor's+53.8%

Housing tenure

51.1%

48.9%

Owner51.1%

Renter48.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 02452 in Waltham, MA has changed in 5 years

Income

$101,857 → $118,431

up 16.3%

Population

16,193 → 15,808

down 2.4%

Renter share

46.7% → 48.9%

+2.2 pts

Bachelor's+

55.2% → 53.8%

-1.4 pts

Median age

29.4 → 31.6

+2.2 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $101,857 in 2021 to $118,431 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 16,193 to 15,808 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.4% change. About 48.9% of households rent today, against 46.7% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 02452

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 02452

About renting in ZIP 02452

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 02452 covers Waltham, MA. The median rent here is $2,781/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,690/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,200/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($118,431/yr), ZIP 02452 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02452?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $111,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,781/mo in ZIP 02452. The local median household income is $118,431/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02452?

Rent in ZIP 02452 has been roughly flat over the past year, a -0.0% change.

How does ZIP 02452 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?

ZIP 02452 is in the middle among Massachusetts ZIP codes for rent, ranking #82 of 164 at $2,781/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 02452 changed 0.0%, against a typical +3.0% across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks.