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City · 81,036 residents · Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Somerville , Massachusetts

In Somerville, a typical home is worth $911,300 and typical rent is $2,517 a month. Compared with all of Middlesex County, the typical home value is 25% higher, typical rent is 14% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 27 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $911,300

    25% above the county

    62% above Massachusetts

    • Somerville
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $2,517a month

    14% above the county

    43% above Massachusetts

    • Somerville
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $132,572a year

    About the same as the county

    28% above Massachusetts

    • Somerville
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    34%

    27 points below the county

    28 points below Massachusetts

    • Somerville
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$920,007
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$3,428 a month
2.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Somerville is in Middlesex County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Middlesex County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Somerville apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 34% of households in Somerville own their home, against 61% in Middlesex County.

  2. Somerville has the 4th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 115 cities in Massachusetts with more than 5,000 people (36%).

  3. Nearby, in Chelsea, the typical home value is $493,500: 46% less than in Somerville ($911,300).

  4. Nearby, in Chelsea, the typical rent is $1,956: 22% less than in Somerville ($2,517).

  5. The typical home in Somerville is worth $911,300, 25% more than in Middlesex County as a whole ($727,800).

  6. Somerville has the 11th highest typical rent of the 121 cities in Massachusetts with more than 5,000 people ($2,517).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Somerville

What homes there are in Somerville, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes here are varied: buildings of 2 to 4 homes are 55% of them, more than in Middlesex County (21%), and no kind reaches half.

Year built

In Somerville, at least half of the homes were built before 1940, and 69% date from before 1960.

In Somerville, 27% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 37% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 55% in Middlesex County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

At least 67% of rented homes in Somerville cost less than $3,000, below HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($3,008).

With a mortgage

$3,452 a month

Middlesex County: $3,224 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,026 a month

Middlesex County: $1,211 a month

Owners with a mortgage

72%

Middlesex County: 66%

Owning costs more in Somerville: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $3,452 a month; in Middlesex County, $3,224. Without one, $1,026.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Somerville rose 37% since 2015–2019, less than in Middlesex County (45%).

Much as in Middlesex County, the typical rent in Somerville rose 34% since 2015–2019.

While home values in Somerville changed +37% and rent +34%, the typical household income rose 36%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSomervilleMiddlesex CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy 1.6%3.4%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.6%2.2%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.192.492.442.53
Drive alone 30%54%61%69%
Carpool 5%6%7%9%
Public transit 19%7%7%3%
Walk or bike 14%6%5%3%
Work from home 31%25%19%15%
Other means 1%2%2%2%
Typical commute 30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Somerville is 1.6%, lower than in Middlesex County (3.4%).

In Somerville, 2.6% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Middlesex County.

On average, a household in Somerville has 2.19 people, fewer than in Middlesex County (2.49).

Public transit matters here: 19% of workers take it to work, against 7% in Middlesex County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Somerville?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Somerville, worth $911,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 68% of the typical household income in Somerville, which is $132,572 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $321,745 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Middlesex County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Somerville. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $31,896 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$7,507

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$894,794
Total interest
$1,287,398
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $15,390 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,093 a month

  • Tight

    $3,093 to $3,977 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,977 a month

    Your payment · 68%

Compared with the typical household income in Somerville ($132,572 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,507
Principal & interest$6,062
Property tax$516
Home insurance$380
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$550

You need at least $31,896 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Somerville and Middlesex County

Somerville is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Somerville's own numbers

Typical home value
$911,300
Typical monthly rent
$2,517
Typical yearly household income
$132,572
Households that own their home
34%
Effective property tax rate
0.68%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Middlesex County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,383–$3,008
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+46%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Middlesex County.

Everything about Middlesex County

Buying

Buying a home in Somerville

A typical home in Somerville is worth $911,300: 25% above the county and 62% above Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Somerville ($132,572 a year), a typical home costs 6.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Somerville 6.9 years
  • Middlesex 5.6 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Middlesex County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Middlesex County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Middlesex County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +83% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Somerville next to Middlesex County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Somerville $911,300
  • Middlesex $727,800
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Somerville $2,517
  • Middlesex $2,201
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Somerville $132,572
  • Middlesex $130,847
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Somerville next to Middlesex County and Massachusetts
Measure Somerville Middlesex County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $911,300 $727,800 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,517 $2,201 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $132,572 $130,847 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 34% 61% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,186 $7,501 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.68% 1.03% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 36% 47% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Middlesex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Somerville

For a typical $911,300 home in Somerville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Somerville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $7,507a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $31,896
    Cash to close
    $59,235
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $550

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,194a month

    Down payment
    $45,565
    Cash to close
    $72,904
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $433

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $5,835a month

    Down payment
    $182,260
    Cash to close
    $209,599
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $6,677a month

    Down payment
    $136,695
    Cash to close
    $164,034
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Somerville and for Middlesex County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Somerville

0.68%of the home’s value each year

$6,186 a year for the typical owner in Somerville.

  • Somerville 0.68%
  • Middlesex 1.03%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Middlesex County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Middlesex County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
4,035
Of those, with NFIP insurance
54%
County Massachusetts U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 54% 50% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Somerville

Typical rent in Somerville is $2,517 a month: 14% above the county. In Somerville, 36% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Middlesex County; Somerville is in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,008 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $57.85 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,440 $46.92 $97,600
1 bedroom $2,518 $48.42 $100,720
2 bedrooms $3,008 $57.85 $120,320
3 bedrooms $3,584 $68.92 $143,360
4 bedrooms $3,953 $76.02 $158,120

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $2,383 to $3,008. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Middlesex County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people liveSomerville is in this area
44 towns in this area

Acton town, Arlington town, Ashby town, Ashland town, Ayer town, Bedford town, Belmont town, Boxborough town, Burlington town, Cambridge city, Carlisle town, Concord town, Everett city, Framingham city, Holliston town, Hopkinton town, Hudson town, Lexington town, Lincoln town, Littleton town, Malden city, Marlborough city, Maynard town, Medford city, Melrose city, Natick town, Newton city, North Reading town, Reading town, Sherborn town, Shirley town, Somerville city, Stoneham town, Stow town, Sudbury town, Townsend town, Wakefield town, Waltham city, Watertown city, Wayland town, Weston town, Wilmington town, Winchester town, Woburn city

 $2,440$2,518$3,008$3,584$3,953$57.85
Lowell, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
10 towns in this area

Billerica town, Chelmsford town, Dracut town, Dunstable town, Groton town, Lowell city, Pepperell town, Tewksbury town, Tyngsborough town, Westford town

 $1,659$1,831$2,383$2,878$3,132$45.83

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Somerville

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Somerville has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,470 in 02145 to $3,750 in 02144.

  • 02143 $3,630$4,330
  • 02144 $3,750$4,470
  • 02145 $3,470$4,130

A ZIP code counts for Somerville when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Somerville

HUD lists 31 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Somerville. These are the largest.

  • Brady Towers 13 Warren Ave # 25, Somerville 02143 369 homes, 368 low-income · Run by Somerville Housing Authority · Average payment: $569 a month · Average wait: 10 months (617) 996-0922
  • Clarendon Hill Towers 1366 Broadway, Somerville 02144 501 homes, 347 low-income · For families (617) 625-7150
  • Cobble Hill Apts 84 Washington St, Somerville 02143 224 homes, 223 low-income · For families
  • Mystic View Apt 70 River Rd, Somerville 02145 215 low-income homes · Run by Somerville Housing Authority · Average payment: $988 a month · Average wait: 17 months (617) 996-0922
  • SOMERVILLE 75 MyrtleSt/Bryant Manor 75 Myrtle St, Somerville 02145 134 low-income homes · For older adults

See all 311 buildings in Middlesex County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Somerville

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 5 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Middlesex County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Somerville

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Somerville or Middlesex County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Somerville the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Somerville

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Somerville, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Somerville Community Corporation

    337 Somerville Ave, Somerville · 1 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole and Portuguese.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (617) 410-9905

  • Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, Inc.

    143 Border St, East Boston · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (617) 567-5882

  • Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

    105 Chauncy St, Boston · 3 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Creole, French, and 5 more languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    (617) 348-6449

Every agency in Middlesex County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near Somerville

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Somerville

HUD’s record names them for Somerville or Middlesex County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Somerville Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (617) 996-0922

34 other authorities have an office in Middlesex County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Middlesex County

These cities are also in Middlesex County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Middlesex County Housing in Massachusetts
See 14 more cities in Middlesex County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Somerville, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Middlesex County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Somerville.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Somerville

Short answers with the numbers for Somerville and all of Middlesex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Somerville?

The typical home value in Somerville is $911,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Middlesex County it is $727,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Somerville?

Typical rent in Somerville is $2,517 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Middlesex County is $2,383–$3,008.

What is the FHA loan limit in Somerville?

Somerville uses the FHA limit for all of Middlesex County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Somerville?

The typical homeowner in Somerville pays $6,186 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.68% of the home’s value; in Middlesex County, the rate is 1.03%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Somerville?

There are 5 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Middlesex County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).