Boston, MA Rental Market Trends

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,001, a 3% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,925.

Studio apartments in Boston rent for $2,301 a month, while 1-bedroom apartments ask on average $2,813 a month; the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $3,356.

Average Rent in Boston, MA

Last updated Jul 2018
All rentals Studio 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds
Average Rent $3,001 $2,301 $2,813 $3,356 $4,106
Y-o-Y Change 3% 3% 3% 2% 5%
Average Apartment Size 815 sq. ft. 490 sq. ft. 707 sq. ft. 986 sq. ft. 1,311 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 490 sq. ft., while a one-bedroom apartment offers a more generous square footage: 707. 2-bedroom apartments in Boston have an average size of 986 sq. ft.

Boston, MA Apartment Rent Ranges

  • $1,001-$1,5007%
  • $1,501-$2,00018%
  • > $2,00075%

Boston, MA Rent Trends

Average Rent All rentals Studio 1 Bed 2 Beds 3 Beds
Jul / 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
Jan / 2015 $2,758 $2,070 $2,575 $3,092 $3,586
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Average Rent in Boston, MA By Neighborhood

Back Bay
$3,625
North End Boston
$3,619
Chinatown - Leather District
$3,606
Downtown - Financial District
$3,540
Bay Village
$3,523
South Boston
$3,411
South End Boston
$3,254
West End Boston
$3,226
Fenway - Kenmore
$3,223
Mission Hill
$3,222
Beacon Hill
$3,129
Charlestown
$3,103
Allston - Brighton
$2,705
East Boston
$2,627
Jamaica Plain
$2,612
Dorchester
$2,597
Roxbury
$2,277
Roslindale
$2,265

The most affordable neighborhoods in Boston are Roslindale, where the average rent goes for $2,265/month, Roxbury, where renters pay $2,277/mo on average, and Dorchester, where the average rent goes for $2,597/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Jamaica Plain ($2,612), East Boston ($2,627), and Allston - Brighton ($2,705), where the asking prices are below the average Boston rent of $3,001/mo.

The most expensive neighborhoods in Boston are Chinatown - Leather District ($3,606), North End Boston ($3,619) and Back Bay ($3,625).

Boston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Neighborhood
vs.
Neighborhood

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

$2,705

Allston - Brighton rent is 10% lower than Boston average

All rentals $2,705
Studio $2,016
1 Bed $2,615
2 Beds $3,155
3 Beds $3,642
$3,625

Back Bay rent is 21% higher than Boston average

All rentals $3,625
Studio $2,478
1 Bed $3,266
2 Beds $4,409
3 Beds $5,750

How Does Boston Compare to Nearby Cities

Average Rent Y-o-Y Change
Boston $3,001 3%
Quincy $2,033 2%
Brookline $2,811 4%
Lowell $1,582 5%
Weymouth Town $1,797 2%
Fall River $1,244 6%
Canton $2,026 1%
New Bedford $1,338 7%
Norwood $1,893 4%
Stoughton $1,766 4%
Franklin Town $1,582 3%

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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