ZIP 02472
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 02472 usually run 3.2% below trend in December and 2.7% above it in July, about $183 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 02472 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2016.
Rent in ZIP 02472 changed +2.6% 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 02472 rose 24% while median household income rose 24.6% ($101,397 to $126,336). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 02472 is 29% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($126,336) is $3,158 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,700); a 2-bedroom is $3,210.
ZIP 02452, 2 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,781/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 02472. 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 02472 (Watertown, MA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 66.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 02472 in Watertown, MA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 02472 in Watertown, MA has climbed from $2,323 to $3,101, a 33.5% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $101,354 to $126,336 across the same window, up 24.6% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 35,229 residents to roughly 35,620. Renters now make up 52.4% of households, compared with 50.6% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 02472 in Watertown, MA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about ZIP 02472
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Tips for renters in ZIP 02472
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 02472 covers Watertown, MA. The median rent here is $3,101/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,700/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,210/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($126,336/yr), ZIP 02472 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 02472?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 02472?
When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 02472?
Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 02472?
How does ZIP 02472 compare to other ZIPs in Massachusetts?
How does ZIP 02472 compare to the rest of Watertown?
At $3,101/mo, rent takes ~29% of ZIP 02472's median household income ($126,336/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.