Average Rent in Boston, MA

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Current Versus Historical Boston, MA Rents

Boston rentals average $2,400 for a studio rental to $4,600 for a 4-bedroom rental. The median price of all currently available listings is $3,500, or roughly $48 per square feet.

For the apartment units and housing in March 2023, median rents have risen substantially over the last year. Studio rentals prices have decreased by $626 (-22.56%) year-over-year from $2,776 to $2,150. 1-bedroom rentals prices have increased by $308 (12.63%) year-over-year from $2,442 to $2,750. 2-bedroom rentals prices have increased by $286 (10.00%) year-over-year from $2,859 to $3,145. 3-bedroom rentals prices have increased by $250 (7.81%) year-over-year from $3,200 to $3,450. 4-bedroom rentals prices have decreased by $16 (-0.35%) year-over-year from $4,516 to $4,500. Note that this figure includes all active and rented listings throughout the month.

Month-to-month, seasonality might have a bigger impact than overall trend price changes. Studio rents have gone up by 2.38% this month. 1-bedroom rents have gone down by 0.00% this month. 2-bedroom rents have gone down by 1.10% this month. 3-bedroom rents have gone down by 3.23% this month. 4-bedroom rents have gone down by 5.35% this month.

Beds	Price / Sqft	Mar 2023 Rent	1 Yr Ago Rent (% +/-)	3 Yr Ago Rent (% +/-)
Studio	$69	$2,150	$2,776 (-22.56%)	$2,342 (-8.19%)
1 BR	$58	$2,750	$2,442 (12.63%)	$2,897 (-5.06%)
2 BR	$49	$3,145	$2,859 (10.00%)	$3,275 (-3.97%)
3 BR	$33	$3,450	$3,200 (7.81%)	$3,248 (6.21%)
4+ BR	$31	$4,500	$4,516 (-0.35%)	$3,967 (13.45%)

Historical Rents in Boston, MA

Studio

1 Bed

2 Bed

3 Bed

4 Bed

Top Cities Near Boston

There are a total of 8 cities nearby Boston. The average rent in Boston is currently $3,459 per month. A total of 4 cities nearby have an average rent lower than that. Our records show that Quincy, MA, with an average rent of $2,515, is the most affordable city nearby. In contrast, the most expensive city near Boston, MA is Brookline, MA. Monthly rents here are on average $4,200 per month.

Let's compare Boston, MA's rent against other top cities nearby by bedroom size. Typically, rent for studios in Boston, MA is 14.59% more expensive than other cities nearby. One bedrooms are about 15.98% more expensive. Two bedrooms in Boston, MA are about 11.99% more expensive. Finally, rent for three bedrooms are about 5.76% more affordable. Want more information? Check out the top 8 cities near Boston, MA in the following chart.

City	Studio	1 Bed	2 Bed	All
Quincy, MA	$1,900	$2,245	$2,670	$2,515
Waltham, MA	N/A	$2,671	$2,800	$2,849
Watertown Town, MA	N/A	$2,500	$2,800	$2,900
Medford, MA	N/A	$2,150	$3,000	$3,400
Cambridge, MA	$2,700	$2,950	$3,605	$3,517
Somerville, MA	$2,250	$2,575	$3,200	$3,600
Newton, MA	$2,350	$2,323	$2,799	$3,800
Brookline, MA	$2,200	$2,700	$3,300	$4,200

Top Neighborhoods Near Boston

There are a total of 31 neighborhoods in or near Boston. Some of these neighborhoods include North Cambridge, Central Maverick Square - Paris Street, and Hyde Square. We've included the top 30 neighborhoods out of 31 total neighborhoods in or near Boston, MA in the following chart.

The average rent for these 30 neighborhoods in or near Boston, MA is currently around $3,600 per month. A total of 13 neighborhoods have a lower average rent. Meaning, only seventeen neighborhoods have a higher average rent than $3,600. Interestingly, the neighborhoods' average rent is higher than Boston's average rent, which is only $3,500. Out of all the neighborhoods in or near Boston, North Cambridge has the most affordable average rent at $3,176 per month. Whereas, at $4,600 average rent per month, Lower Roxbury is the most expensive neighborhood in or near Boston. View the following chart for more information.

Neighborhood	Studio	1 Bed	2 Bed	All
North Cambridge, Cambridge, MA	$2,509	$2,900	$3,600	$3,176
Central Maverick Square - Paris Street, Boston, MA	N/A	$2,800	$3,050	$3,200
Hyde Square, Boston, MA	N/A	$2,495	$2,860	$3,200
West End, Boston, MA	$2,788	$3,155	$4,565	$3,235
Beacon Hill, Boston, MA	$2,225	$2,800	$3,300	$3,300
Commonwealth, Boston, MA	$1,800	$2,300	$2,698	$3,400
Telegraph Hill, Boston, MA	$2,400	$2,900	$3,400	$3,400
East Cambridge, Cambridge, MA	$3,065	$3,342	$4,214	$3,478
Fenway - Kenmore - Audubon Circle - Longwood, Boston, MA	$2,250	$2,956	$3,400	$3,500
Oak Square, Boston, MA	N/A	$2,100	$2,800	$3,500
St. Elizabeth's, Boston, MA	$1,850	$2,100	$2,700	$3,500
Neighborhood Nine, Cambridge, MA	$2,450	$2,800	$3,500	$3,500
North End, Boston, MA	$2,450	$3,165	$3,200	$3,500
Powder House, Somerville, MA	$2,300	$2,625	$3,150	$3,540
Spring Hill, Somerville, MA	$2,250	$2,450	$3,175	$3,600
North Allston, Boston, MA	$3,199	$2,800	$3,800	$3,650
Columbia Point, Boston, MA	N/A	$2,500	$3,300	$3,706
Back Bay, Boston, MA	$2,250	$3,300	$5,195	$3,740
South End, Boston, MA	$2,915	$3,405	$4,600	$3,750
Downtown Boston, Boston, MA	$2,835	$3,377	$4,380	$3,765
Chinatown - Leather District, Boston, MA	$3,052	$3,605	$5,109	$3,852
Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA	$3,000	$3,705	$4,477	$3,920
Riverside, Cambridge, MA	$2,175	$2,530	$3,295	$3,950
Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA	$1,863	$2,625	$3,200	$3,995
D Street - West Broadway, Boston, MA	$3,099	$3,703	$4,795	$4,000
Cleveland Circle, Brookline, MA	N/A	$2,775	$3,950	$4,000
Brookline Village, Brookline, MA	$2,200	$2,750	$3,400	$4,025
Washington Square, Brookline, MA	$2,250	$2,438	$2,900	$4,200
Mission Hill, Boston, MA	$2,275	$2,936	$3,025	$4,250
Lower Roxbury, Boston, MA	$2,610	$3,000	$4,000	$4,600

Top Counties Near Boston

There are a total of 31 counties located by Boston, MA. Some of these counties include Quincy, MA, Waltham, MA, and Watertown Town, MA. The average rent for rentals in these counties is $3,500. That's roughly around $34 per sqft. A total of 5 counties have a lower average rent. The county that is the most affordable is Quincy, MA. It's average rent per month is $2,515. Vice versa, with an average rent of $4,200, Brookline, MA is the most expensive county by Boston, MA.

Typically, rent for studios in Boston, MA is 8.33% more expensive than other counties nearby. In comparison, rent for one bedroom listings in Boston, MA is 14.74% more expensive than other counties nearby. Finally, rent for two bedrooms in Boston, MA is 8.95% more expensive than other counties nearby. We've listed the top 9 counties in the chart below.

County	Studio	1 Bed	2 Bed	All
Quincy, MA	$1,900	$2,245	$2,670	$2,515
Waltham, MA	N/A	$2,671	$2,800	$2,849
Watertown Town, MA	N/A	$2,500	$2,800	$2,900
Medford, MA	N/A	$2,150	$3,000	$3,400
Boston, MA	$2,400	$3,020	$3,295	$3,500
Cambridge, MA	$2,700	$2,950	$3,605	$3,517
Somerville, MA	$2,250	$2,575	$3,200	$3,600
Newton, MA	$2,350	$2,323	$2,799	$3,800
Brookline, MA	$2,200	$2,700	$3,300	$4,200

Top Zipcodes Near Boston

There are a total of 34 zipcodes in or near Boston, MA. The average rent for all of these zipcodes is $3,571. A total of 16 zipcodes have a average rent that is lower than that. The zipcode with the most affordable average rent for apartment listings is 02169, Quincy, MA at $2,550 per month. In comparison, the zipcode with the most expensive average rent of $4,500 per month is 02120, Boston, MA.

Studios in these zipcodes have an average rent of $2,254. That's at least $57 per sqft. Do you need more space than that? Average rent for one bedroom rentals for the zipcodes in or near Boston, MA is $2,739 per month. Or in other words, $51 per sqft. Meanwhile, two bedroom apartments will cost you an average of $3,250 per month. Which comes out to $42 per sqft. The following chart includes the top 10 zipcodes in Boston, MA. You can view the average rent breakdown for each zipcode by bedroom size.

Zipcode	Studio	1 Bed	2 Bed	All
02135, Boston, MA	$1,995	$2,300	$2,775	$3,350
02134, Boston, MA	$1,825	$2,250	$2,600	$3,600
02446, Brookline, MA	$1,973	$2,700	$3,200	$4,200
02114, Boston, MA	$2,735	$3,240	$4,000	$3,550
02210, Boston, MA	$3,120	$3,719	$4,878	$3,971
02215, Boston, MA	$2,200	$3,000	$3,400	$3,400
02118, Boston, MA	$2,915	$3,390	$4,445	$3,950
02140, Cambridge, MA	$2,490	$2,900	$3,586	$3,273
02138, Cambridge, MA	$2,389	$2,752	$3,525	$3,082
02116, Boston, MA	$2,670	$3,543	$4,950	$3,873

Frequently Asked Questions - Boston Average Rents

What is the average rent price in Boston, MA?

The average monthly rental price for Boston, MA apartments for rent is approximately $3,500. This calculation takes into consideration rental listings of varying bedroom/bathroom sizes, building types, and locations.

Do Boston, MA rent prices drop in winter?

Yes! On average we see a 3.4% drop in rental prices between the peak summer months and the slower winter months. With the added bonus of decreased competition from other renters looking to move, winter is generally considered the best time of the year to find an apartment for rent in Boston, MA.

How much is a studio apartment in Boston, MA?

The average monthly rental price for studio apartments is $2,400 and an average price per square feet of $69.00. There are a total of 476 studio apartment listings currently available for rent in Boston.

How much is a one bedroom apartment in Boston, MA?

The average monthly rental price for one bedroom apartments is $3,020 and an average price per square feet of $58.29. There are a total of 1,310 one bedroom apartment listings currently available for rent in Boston.

How much is a two bedroom apartment in Boston, MA?

The average monthly rental price for two bedroom apartments is $3,295 and an average price per square feet of $49.11. There are a total of 1,554 two bedroom apartment listings currently available for rent in Boston.

How have rent prices in Boston, MA changed this year?

Rent prices for rentals in Boston, MA can fluctuate yearly. Specifically, studio rental prices have changed by -0.23%, one bedroom rental prices have changed by 0.13%, two bedroom rental prices have changed by 0.10%, and three bedroom rental prices have changed by 0.08% year-over-year.

What is a reasonable rent price in Boston, MA?

A reasonable rent price in Boston, MA is around $2,800/month. You can search for these reasonably priced rental listings on RentHop.