Boston, MA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: September 20, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,743, a 1.52% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,800.
Studio Apartments at $2,935 offer the most budget-friendly option with 483 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 711 square feet for $3,449, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $4,381 offer 1,007 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,231 sq ft) for $5,133, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Boston, MA
Last updated: September 20, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $3,743 | 794 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $2,935 | 483 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $3,449 | 711 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $4,381 | 1,007 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $5,133 | 1,231 sq. ft. |
Boston, MA rent trends
What's the typical rent budget in Boston, MA?
The largest share of rentals in Boston, MA (69%) fall between $3,000- per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in Boston, MA?
182,208 or 64% of the households in Boston, MA are renter-occupied while 101,166 or 36% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Boston?
Mattapan $2,387/month
West Roxbury $2,696/month
Roxbury $2,745/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,743/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Boston?
Downtown - Financial District $4,714/month
Back Bay $4,761/month
Bay Village $6,122/month
These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Bay Village | $6,122 |
| Back Bay | $4,761 |
| Downtown - Financial District | $4,714 |
| South Boston | $4,319 |
| West End Boston | $4,155 |
| Fenway - Kenmore | $4,078 |
| Chinatown - Leather District | $4,072 |
| South End Boston | $3,931 |
| Charlestown | $3,528 |
| East Boston | $3,317 |
| Allston - Brighton | $3,315 |
| Jamaica Plain | $3,136 |
| Mission Hill | $3,110 |
| Roslindale | $2,891 |
| Beacon Hill | $2,839 |
| Dorchester | $2,794 |
| Roxbury | $2,745 |
| West Roxbury | $2,696 |
| Mattapan | $2,387 |
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Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Allston - Brighton is 30% lower than in Back Bay
$3,315
Allston - Brighton rent is 11% lower than Boston average
Average Rent
$3,315
$4,761
Back Bay rent is 27% higher than Boston average
Average Rent
$4,761
How Boston Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Boston | $3,743 |
| Cambridge | $3,602 |
| Worcester | $2,054 |
| Somerville | $3,288 |
| Fall River | $2,108 |
| Lowell | $2,290 |
| Quincy | $2,777 |
| Cape Cod | $2,518 |
| Malden | $2,605 |
| New Bedford | $2,146 |
| Salem | $2,722 |
| Medford | $3,236 |
| Newton | $3,828 |
| Weymouth Town | $2,483 |
| Chelsea | $2,762 |
| Brockton | $2,075 |
| Lynn, MA | $2,449 |
| Revere, MA | $2,846 |
| Waltham, MA | $3,045 |
| Watertown, MA | $3,454 |
| Melrose, MA | $2,995 |
Where this data comes from
The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.
Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Boston apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.
Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.