Cheapest and most expensive places to rent in Massachusetts
As of October 17, 2026, the cheapest city to rent in Massachusetts is Holyoke, where the median 1-bedroom asks $1,275/month, 54% below the statewide median of about $2,750. The most expensive is Chestnut Hill at $2,995/month.
Across the 33 Massachusetts cities we rank, the median 1-bedroom runs from $1,275 in Holyoke to $2,995 in Chestnut Hill, 2.3 times as much. 29 of 33 sit below the statewide 1-bedroom median of about $2,750. The largest rental market, Boston (9,595 listings), has a median of $2,750, in line with the state.
Updated . Ranked by median 1-bedroom asking rent; only cities with at least 100 listings are included. Statewide median is estimated from city medians weighted by listing count. How we calculate
Cheapest cities to rent in Massachusetts
| # | City | 1 bed | 2 beds | Listings | vs state (1BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holyoke | $1,275 | $1,550 | 460 | -54% |
| 2 | Pittsfield | $1,295 | $1,550 | 259 | -53% |
| 3 | Springfield | $1,350 | $1,700 | 564 | -51% |
| 4 | New Bedford | $1,450 | $1,650 | 683 | -47% |
| 5 | Fall River | $1,500 | $1,700 | 1,305 | -45% |
| 6 | Lawrence | $1,645 | $2,200 | 379 | -40% |
| 7 | Worcester | $1,750 | $1,962 | 1,490 | -36% |
| 8 | Shrewsbury | $1,750 | $2,250 | 107 | -36% |
| 9 | Haverhill | $1,800 | $2,250 | 311 | -35% |
| 10 | Lowell | $1,850 | $2,100 | 704 | -33% |
Most expensive cities to rent in Massachusetts
| # | City | 1 bed | 2 beds | Listings | vs state (1BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chestnut Hill | $2,995 | $3,582 | 245 | +9% |
| 2 | Brookline | $2,800 | $3,400 | 1,468 | +2% |
| 3 | Cambridge | $2,800 | $3,350 | 2,003 | +2% |
| 4 | Boston | $2,750 | $3,200 | 9,595 | 0% |
| 5 | Somerville | $2,600 | $3,050 | 1,512 | -5% |
| 6 | Watertown | $2,400 | $2,800 | 339 | -13% |
| 7 | Allston | $2,372 | $2,875 | 537 | -14% |
| 8 | Newton | $2,300 | $2,900 | 376 | -16% |
| 9 | Brighton | $2,300 | $2,800 | 766 | -16% |
| 10 | Arlington | $2,200 | $2,900 | 227 | -20% |
Common questions
- What is the cheapest city to rent in Massachusetts?
- As of October 17, 2026, Holyoke has the lowest median 1-bedroom asking rent among the Massachusetts cities we rank, at $1,275/month. Next are Pittsfield ($1,295) and Springfield ($1,350).
- What is the most expensive city to rent in Massachusetts?
- As of October 17, 2026, Chestnut Hill has the highest median 1-bedroom asking rent among the Massachusetts cities we rank, at $2,995/month, 9% above the statewide median.
- What is the median rent for a 1-bedroom in Massachusetts?
- As of October 17, 2026, the statewide median asking rent for a 1-bedroom is about $2,750/month. It is estimated from city medians weighted by listing count, using active listings on Redfin, Zillow and ApartmentHomeLiving. How we calculate