ApartmentAdvisor Massachusetts Rent Report

Massachusetts continues to rank as the second most expensive state in the U.S. for renters, trailing only New York. In November, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Commonwealth was $2,423, a .9% increase from October, and .9% decrease compared to last year at this time. Notably, one-bedroom rents in some of the state’s most expensive cities, including Cambridge and Brookline, have declined more significantly compared to last year, balancing out increases in other areas.

This report delves into rent price trends across the state, highlighting the most and least expensive cities and analyzing year-over-year and month-over-month changes. Notably, some of the state's most expensive cities have seen prices dip compared to last year at this time.

Most Expensive Cities

Brookline was the priciest city in Massachusetts for one-bedroom rentals for a second month in a row, with a median rent of $2,950 in November. While prices were flat compared to October, rents in Brookline were sitting 3.3% lower than they were at the same time last year. Cambridge followed closely with a median rent of $2,895, marking a modest increase of 0.8% month-over-month but a 2.9% year-over-year decrease. Boston rounds out the top three most expensive cities, with a median one-bedroom rent of $2,800, up 0.5% from October. Notably, Boston rents are sitting 5.7% lower compared to November 2023, indicating that renters may be finding slightly better deals in the city this year.

Least Expensive Cities

Springfield ranked as most affordable for one-bedroom apartments, with a median rent of $1,350 in November. This represents a 2.9% decrease compared to October and a 4.9% decline year-over-year, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious renters. Fall River came in second at $1,453, up a mere .2% month-over-month and up 3.8% compared to November 2023. New Bedford ranked third, with a median rent of $1,500, a large drop from last month (14.3%) and down 5.7% increase year-over-year.