Boston, MA Rental Market Trends

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,020, a 0% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,013.

Studio apartments in Boston rent for $2,316 a month, while 1-bedroom apartments ask on average $2,831 a month; the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $3,383.

Average Rent in Boston, MA

Last updated Oct 2018
All rentals Studio 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds
Average Rent $3,020 $2,316 $2,831 $3,383 $4,132
Y-o-Y Change n/a 1% 1% n/a 1%
Average Apartment Size 815 sq. ft. 491 sq. ft. 706 sq. ft. 985 sq. ft. 1,308 sq. ft.

The average size for a Boston apartment is 815 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on apartment type. A studio averages 491 sq. ft., while a one-bedroom apartment offers a more generous square footage: 706. 2-bedroom apartments in Boston have an average size of 985 sq. ft.

Boston, MA Apartment Rent Ranges

  • $1,001-$1,5007%
  • $1,501-$2,00017%
  • > $2,00076%

Boston, MA Rent Trends

Average Rent All rentals Studio 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds
Oct / 2018 $3,020 $2,316 $2,831 $3,383 $4,132
Jan / 2018 $3,001 $2,301 $2,813 $3,356 $4,106
Sept / 2017 $3,016 $2,318 $2,797 $3,416 $4,130
May / 2017 $3,013 $2,285 $2,801 $3,397 $4,091
Jan / 2017 $2,925 $2,239 $2,731 $3,284 $3,898
Sept / 2016 $2,963 $2,235 $2,772 $3,331 $3,950
May / 2016 $2,990 $2,257 $2,787 $3,381 $3,965
Jan / 2016 $2,936 $2,234 $2,750 $3,310 $3,759
Sept / 2015 $2,898 $2,206 $2,708 $3,270 $3,732
May / 2015 $2,844 $2,156 $2,655 $3,198 $3,672
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Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood

North End Boston
$3,674
Back Bay
$3,627
Chinatown - Leather District
$3,605
Downtown - Financial District
$3,555
Bay Village
$3,527
South Boston
$3,412
West End Boston
$3,304
South End Boston
$3,256
Fenway - Kenmore
$3,223
Mission Hill
$3,222
Beacon Hill
$3,218
Charlestown
$3,099
Allston - Brighton
$2,706
Dorchester
$2,633
East Boston
$2,633
Jamaica Plain
$2,610
Roxbury
$2,283
Roslindale
$2,265

The most affordable neighborhoods in Boston are Roslindale, where the average rent goes for $2,265/month, Roxbury, where renters pay $2,283/mo on average, and Jamaica Plain, where the average rent goes for $2,610/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from East Boston ($2,633), Dorchester ($2,633), and Allston - Brighton ($2,706), where the asking prices are below the average Boston rent of $3,020/mo.

The most expensive neighborhoods in Boston are Chinatown - Leather District ($3,605), Back Bay ($3,627) and North End Boston ($3,674).

Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Neighborhood
vs.
Neighborhood

Rent in Allston - Brighton is 25% lower than in Back Bay

$2,706

Allston - Brighton rent is 10% lower than Boston average

All rentals $2,706
Studio $2,016
1 Bed $2,615
2 Beds $3,155
3 Beds $3,659
$3,627

Back Bay rent is 20% higher than Boston average

All rentals $3,627
Studio $2,483
1 Bed $3,269
2 Beds $4,409
3 Beds $5,750

How Does Boston Compare to Nearby Cities

Average Rent Y-o-Y Change
Brookline $2,819 1%
Boston $3,020 n/a
Quincy $2,073 0%
Revere $2,031 1%
Lowell $1,582 2%
Weymouth Town $1,816 -1%
Stoughton $1,767 -1%
Norwood $1,893 2%
Fall River $1,245 2%
Franklin Town $1,680 2%
New Bedford $1,338 0%

For more information about the Boston rental trends, check out our monthly rent report

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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.

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