Boston, MA Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in Boston?
The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,143, a 6% decrease compared to the previous year.
Average Rent in Boston, MA
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| $3,143 | -6% | 808 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in Boston?
The average size for a Boston, MA apartment is 808 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.
Boston, MA Apartment Rent Ranges
- $1,501-$2,0006%
- > $2,00094%
Boston, MA Occupied Housing Units
- Renter-occupied Households51%
- Owner-occupied Households48%
139,980 or 51% of the households in Boston, MA are renter-occupied while 129,542 or 48% are owner-occupied.
Boston, MA Rent Trends
| Average Rent | Mar / 2018 | Jul / 2018 | Nov / 2018 | Mar / 2019 | Jul / 2019 | Nov / 2019 | Mar / 2020 | Jul / 2020 | Nov / 2020 | Mar / 2021 | May / 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $3,247 | $3,377 | $3,298 | $3,330 | $3,528 | $3,408 | $3,444 | $3,254 | $3,144 | $3,083 | $3,143 |
| National | $1,314 | $1,345 | $1,354 | $1,358 | $1,390 | $1,397 | $1,400 | $1,392 | $1,396 | $1,407 | $1,428 |
Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Bay Village | $3,512 |
| Chinatown - Leather District | $3,473 |
| North End Boston | $3,465 |
| Back Bay | $3,422 |
| Downtown - Financial District | $3,284 |
| South Boston | $3,216 |
| South End Boston | $3,193 |
| Fenway - Kenmore | $3,124 |
| Mission Hill | $3,065 |
| West End Boston | $3,008 |
| Beacon Hill | $2,950 |
| Charlestown | $2,873 |
| Jamaica Plain | $2,655 |
| Dorchester | $2,638 |
| Allston - Brighton | $2,609 |
| East Boston | $2,580 |
| Roslindale | $2,499 |
| Roxbury | $2,435 |
| West Roxbury | $2,216 |
| Mattapan | $1,915 |
| Hyde Park | $1,788 |
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Boston?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Boston are Hyde Park, where the average rent goes for $1,788/month, Mattapan, where renters pay $1,915/mo on average, and West Roxbury, where the average rent goes for $2,216/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Roxbury ($2,435), Roslindale ($2,499), and East Boston ($2,580), where the asking prices are below the average Boston rent of $3,143/mo.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston?
The most expensive neighborhoods in Boston are North End Boston ($3,465), Chinatown - Leather District ($3,473) and Bay Village ($3,512).
What are the most popular neighborhoods in Boston?
The most popular neighborhood in Boston is Allston - Brighton, where there are 33 verified RENTCafé listings with an average rent of $2,609. Next up is South Boston, where apartments go for $3,216/month, followed by South End Boston with $3,193 If you’re looking to rent in Boston’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out Fenway - Kenmore, where renters pay $3,124 on average, and Back Bay, where the average monthly rent is $3,422.
Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Allston - Brighton is 24% lower than in Back Bay
Allston - Brighton rent is 17% lower than Boston average
| Average Rent | $2,609 |
|---|
Back Bay rent is 9% higher than Boston average
| Average Rent | $3,422 |
|---|
How Boston Compares to Other Cities
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $3,143 | -6% |
| Cambridge | $2,951 | -6% |
| Worcester | $1,448 | 6% |
| Quincy | $2,197 | -4% |
| Brookline | $2,821 | -9% |
| Lowell | $1,731 | 3% |
| Weymouth Town | $1,984 | 4% |
| Somerville | $2,775 | -6% |
| Stoughton | $1,902 | 6% |
| Brockton | $1,642 | 3% |
| Malden | $2,089 | -6% |