Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Massachusetts
The typical rent in Massachusetts is $1,762 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $2,566 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $49.35 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Massachusetts
- Typical rent
- $1,762
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 25% more than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $2,566
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,659 to $3,583 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $49.35
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $102,640 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 52%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Massachusetts, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
-
Studio
Wage: $24.31–$47.98 an hour
Lowest: $1,264 Highest: $2,495
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $24.77–$52.67 an hour
Lowest: $1,288 Highest: $2,739
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $31.90–$68.90 an hour
Lowest: $1,659 Highest: $3,583
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $38.21–$82.10 an hour
Lowest: $1,987 Highest: $4,269
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $45.58–$103.69 an hour
Lowest: $2,370 Highest: $5,392
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Massachusetts, 52% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
52%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
1,043,884 renter households in Massachusetts
- Spend half or more of their income 26%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 26%
- Spend less than 30% 48%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Massachusetts. Highest fair market rent first.
| Nantucket County | $3,583 | $2,213 | $68.90 | 55% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | $2,383–$3,008 | $2,201 | $45.83–$57.85 | 47% |
| Norfolk County | $2,409–$3,008 | $2,149 | $46.33–$57.85 | 51% |
| Suffolk County | $3,008 | $2,129 | $57.85 | 52% |
| Essex County | $2,367–$3,008 | $1,756 | $45.52–$57.85 | 57% |
| Plymouth County | $2,409–$3,008 | $1,747 | $46.33–$57.85 | 55% |
| Bristol County | $1,668–$2,589 | $1,245 | $32.08–$49.79 | 52% |
| Worcester County | $1,659–$2,499 | $1,426 | $31.90–$48.06 | 51% |
| Barnstable County | $2,488 | $1,678 | $47.85 | 60% |
| Hampshire County | $2,034 | $1,388 | $39.12 | 57% |
| Dukes County | $2,010 | $1,277 | $38.65 | 47% |
| Franklin County | $1,882 | $1,177 | $36.19 | 57% |
| Hampden County | $1,800 | $1,136 | $34.62 | 54% |
| Berkshire County | $1,704–$1,763 | $1,097 | $32.77–$33.90 | 54% |
- Nantucket $3,583$68.90
- Middlesex $2,383–$3,008$45.83–$57.85
- Norfolk $2,409–$3,008$46.33–$57.85
- Suffolk $3,008$57.85
- Essex $2,367–$3,008$45.52–$57.85
- Plymouth $2,409–$3,008$46.33–$57.85
- Bristol $1,668–$2,589$32.08–$49.79
- Worcester $1,659–$2,499$31.90–$48.06
- Barnstable $2,488$47.85
- Hampshire $2,034$39.12
- Dukes $2,010$38.65
- Franklin $1,882$36.19
- Hampden $1,800$34.62
- Berkshire $1,704–$1,763$32.77–$33.90
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Massachusetts
What Massachusetts law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- How much can they charge for a deposit?
- Up to 1 month of rent
- M.G.L. c. 186, §15B(1)(b)
- When must they return my deposit?
- 30 days
- M.G.L. c. 186, §15B(4)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 14 days
- M.G.L. c. 186, §11
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- M.G.L. c. 186, §12
- Only a court order can remove youM.G.L. c. 186, §15F
- Protection from retaliationM.G.L. c. 186, §18
- Repair and deduct from the rentM.G.L. c. 111, §127L
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Massachusetts
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
37 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 19 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Massachusetts is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Nantucket County ($3,583, about $68.90 an hour) and the cheapest Worcester County ($1,659 in Western Worcester County, MA HUD Metro FMR Area, about $31.90 an hour).
How many households in Massachusetts spend too much on rent?
52% of renter households in Massachusetts spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 26% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Massachusetts, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,659 in Western Worcester County, MA HUD Metro FMR Area to $3,583 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Massachusetts?
130 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Massachusetts; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.