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Disclaimer: Covid-19 may have impacted rent prices in a way that is not yet reflected in our reports. When referencing the data published on this page, please keep in mind that the data provided here may not accurately depict the current reality of the market.

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

Last updated February 2022
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
Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood

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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

Neighborhood
vs.

Rent in Allston - Brighton is 24% lower than in Back Bay

$3,048

Allston - Brighton rent is 16% lower than Boston average

Average Rent $3,048
$4,000

Back Bay rent is 10% higher than Boston average

Average Rent $4,000

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

Most Popular Apartments in Boston

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The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Boston apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.