ZIP 02453
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 02453 usually run 2.3% below trend in December and 2% above it in August, about $121 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 02453 is 0.5% below its high of $2,819 in August 2026, at $2,806 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 02453 changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 140 Massachusetts ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 02453 rose 30.1% while median household income rose 32.9% ($86,787 to $115,366). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 02453 is 30.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($115,366) is $2,884 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,580); a 2-bedroom is $3,060.
2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Waltham.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02453. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 02453 (Waltham, MA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 59.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 02453 in Waltham, MA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 02453 in Waltham, MA has climbed by $650 per month, settling near $2,806 after starting the period at $2,156. Household income in the area moved from $100,167 to $115,366 across the same window, up 15.2% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 14.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 30,441 to 31,591 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.8% change. About 56.6% of households rent today, against 58.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 57% to 59.5%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 02453 in Waltham, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about ZIP 02453
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Tips for renters in ZIP 02453
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 02453 covers Waltham, MA. The median rent here is $2,806/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,580/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,060/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($115,366/yr), ZIP 02453 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02453?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02453?
When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 02453?
Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 02453?
How does ZIP 02453 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?
How does ZIP 02453 compare to the rest of Waltham?
At $2,806/mo, rent takes ~29% of ZIP 02453's median household income ($115,366/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.
No discussions yet.