Boston, MA Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in Boston?
The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,634. The cost of rent varies depending on several factors, including location, size, and quality.
Average Rent in Boston, MA
Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
---|---|
$3,634 | 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
Boston, MA Occupied Housing Units
143,136 or 52% of the households in Boston, MA are renter-occupied while 130,052 or 47% are owner-occupied.
Boston, MA Rent Trends
Average Rent | Nov / 2018 | Mar / 2019 | Jul / 2019 | Nov / 2019 | Mar / 2020 | Jul / 2020 | Nov / 2020 | Mar / 2021 | Jul / 2021 | Nov / 2021 | Feb / 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston, MA | $3,298 | $3,330 | $3,528 | $3,408 | $3,444 | $3,254 | $3,144 | $3,083 | $3,392 | $3,549 | $3,634 |
National | $1,362 | $1,367 | $1,399 | $1,407 | $1,409 | $1,399 | $1,403 | $1,412 | $1,495 | $1,591 | $1,628 |

Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood
Neighborhood | Average Rent |
---|---|
North End Boston | $4,250 |
Bay Village | $4,206 |
Chinatown - Leather District | $4,149 |
Back Bay | $4,000 |
Downtown - Financial District | $3,933 |
South Boston | $3,809 |
South End Boston | $3,738 |
West End Boston | $3,710 |
Beacon Hill | $3,625 |
Fenway - Kenmore | $3,614 |
Mission Hill | $3,445 |
Charlestown | $3,310 |
Dorchester | $3,121 |
Jamaica Plain | $3,060 |
Allston - Brighton | $3,048 |
Roslindale | $2,805 |
East Boston | $2,805 |
Roxbury | $2,755 |
West Roxbury | $2,299 |
Mattapan | $2,018 |
Hyde Park | $1,888 |
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Boston?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Boston are Hyde Park, where the average rent goes for $1,888/month, Mattapan, where renters pay $2,018/mo on average, and West Roxbury, where the average rent goes for $2,299/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Roxbury ($2,755), East Boston ($2,805), and Roslindale ($2,805), where the asking prices are below the average Boston rent of $3,634/mo.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston?
The most expensive neighborhoods in Boston are Chinatown - Leather District ($4,149), Bay Village ($4,206) and North End Boston ($4,250).
What are the most popular neighborhoods in Boston?
The most popular neighborhood in Boston is Allston - Brighton, where there are 34 verified RentCafe listings with an average rent of $3,048. Next up is South Boston, where apartments go for $3,809/month, followed by South End Boston with $3,738 If you’re looking to rent in Boston’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out Fenway - Kenmore, where renters pay $3,614 on average, and Dorchester, where the average monthly rent is $3,121.
Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Allston - Brighton is 24% lower than in Back Bay
Allston - Brighton rent is 16% lower than Boston average
Average Rent | $3,048 |
---|
Back Bay rent is 10% higher than Boston average
Average Rent | $4,000 |
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How Boston Compares to Other Cities
City | Average Rent |
---|---|
Boston | $3,634 |
Fall River | $1,655 |
Worcester | $1,586 |
Cambridge | $3,399 |
Quincy | $2,441 |
Brookline | $3,030 |
Lowell | $1,935 |
New Bedford | $1,729 |
Weymouth Town | $2,187 |
Somerville | $2,975 |
Holyoke | $1,206 |
Medford | $2,999 |
Malden | $2,330 |
Brockton | $1,699 |
Revere | $2,338 |
Waltham | $2,705 |
Woburn | $2,302 |
Stoughton | $2,150 |
Lynn | $1,877 |
Newton | $3,102 |
Chelsea | $2,372 |