Boston, MA Rental Market Trends
Last updated: November 18, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,698, a 0.78% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,726.
Studio Apartments at $2,909 offer the most budget-friendly option with 484 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 708 square feet for $3,430, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $4,264 offer 1,004 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,231 sq ft) for $4,851, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Boston, MA
Last updated: November 18, 2025
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $3,698 | 799 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $2,909 | 484 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $3,430 | 708 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $4,264 | 1,004 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $4,851 | 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?
180,403 or 65% of the households in Boston, MA are renter-occupied while 98,813 or 35% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Boston?
Mattapan $2,357/month
Roxbury $2,455/month
West Roxbury $2,567/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,698/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Boston?
South Boston $4,253/month
Downtown - Financial District $4,342/month
Back Bay $4,855/month
These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Back Bay | $4,855 |
| Downtown - Financial District | $4,342 |
| South Boston | $4,253 |
| West End Boston | $4,082 |
| Chinatown - Leather District | $4,044 |
| Fenway - Kenmore | $4,014 |
| South End Boston | $3,965 |
| Charlestown | $3,449 |
| Allston - Brighton | $3,249 |
| Jamaica Plain | $3,208 |
| East Boston | $3,176 |
| Dorchester | $3,102 |
| Mission Hill | $3,019 |
| Roslindale | $2,888 |
| Beacon Hill | $2,599 |
| West Roxbury | $2,567 |
| Roxbury | $2,455 |
| Mattapan | $2,357 |
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Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Allston - Brighton is 33% lower than in Back Bay
$3,249
Allston - Brighton rent is 12% lower than Boston average
Average Rent
$3,249
$4,855
Back Bay rent is 31% higher than Boston average
Average Rent
$4,855
How Boston Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Boston | $3,698 |
| Cambridge | $3,755 |
| Worcester | $2,050 |
| Quincy | $2,812 |
| Fall River | $2,111 |
| Somerville | $3,484 |
| Lowell | $2,269 |
| Salem | $2,723 |
| New Bedford | $2,053 |
| Weymouth Town | $2,552 |
| Braintree Town | $2,867 |
| Malden | $2,653 |
| Waltham | $3,190 |
| Watertown | $3,384 |
| Chelsea | $2,816 |
| Brockton | $2,109 |
| Lynn | $2,419 |
| Medford, MA | $3,127 |
| Newton, MA | $3,840 |
| Revere, MA | $2,707 |
| Melrose, MA | $3,003 |
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.