Massachusetts Rent Affordability
Median rent $1,814/mo. 30% rule needs $72,560/yr income. Rent = 22% of Massachusetts median household income.
Max affordable rent by income
| Gross income | Max rent (30%) | Max rent (25% conservative) | vs Massachusetts median |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $750/mo | $625/mo | 41% of median |
| $40,000 | $1000/mo | $833/mo | 55% of median |
| $50,000 | $1250/mo | $1042/mo | 69% of median |
| $60,000 | $1500/mo | $1250/mo | 83% of median |
| $75,000 | $1875/mo | $1563/mo | 1.03× median |
| $100,000 | $2500/mo | $2083/mo | 1.38× median |
| $125,000 | $3125/mo | $2604/mo | 1.72× median |
| $150,000 | $3750/mo | $3125/mo | 2.07× median |
| $200,000 | $5000/mo | $4167/mo | 2.76× median |
Rent vs buy break-even in Massachusetts
The annual rent-to-home-price ratio of 4.1% is below the 5% threshold, favoring renting over buying in Massachusetts. Home prices are expensive relative to rents — buying makes sense only with a long time horizon (8+ years) or strong appreciation expectations.
Price-to-rent ratio is a heuristic. Full break-even depends on mortgage rate, property tax, maintenance, HOA, transaction costs, and the buyer's expected hold period.
Rent in neighboring states
How Massachusetts rent compares to contiguous neighbors. Relocation, remote-work geography, or commute-belt decisions.
| State | Median rent | % of state HH median | Median home | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (current) | $1,814 | 22% | $532,700 | — |
| Vermont | $1,190 | 18% | $296,400 | -$624 |
| Rhode Island | $1,369 | 19% | $367,100 | -$445 |
| New Hampshire | $1,465 | 18% | $372,500 | -$349 |
| Connecticut | $1,473 | 19% | $343,300 | -$341 |
| New York | $1,666 | 24% | $412,800 | -$148 |
Other states
Common questions
- What is the median rent in Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts statewide median gross monthly rent is $1,814 (Census ACS 2023 B25064). Metro areas typically run 20-50% above the state median; rural areas 10-25% below. Numbers reflect all renters and bedroom counts combined.
- How much income do I need to afford the median rent in Massachusetts?
- Using the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income), you need about $72,560/year. The 25% conservative rule pushes that to $87,072/year. Massachusetts median household income is $99,858 — rent eats 22% of typical earners' income.
- Is renting or buying a better deal in Massachusetts?
- Rule of thumb: if annual rent < 5% of home price, renting wins. Massachusetts ratio: annual rent $21,768 / median home $532,700 = 4.1%. Renting is favored here (homes are expensive relative to rents). Full break-even depends on time horizon, mortgage rate, property tax, and HOA.
- Why is rent so much higher in some Massachusetts metros than the statewide median?
- State median averages across rural and urban renters. A high-cost metro (LA, NYC, SF, Boston, Seattle, DC) drives metro rent 30-60% above the state number. Use the statewide median for relocation comparison, but expect to pay above-median in any large city.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.
Estimate only — not financial advice. The 30% rule is a guideline, not a rule. State median hides large city-level variation. Calculate take-home pay in Massachusetts →
Sources
Last reviewed: · Beforeview Editorial · editorial policy