MA Rents Rose Slightly In 2019

BOSTON — The cost of rent is on the rise across the nation, according to the first National Rent Report of 2020, compiled by Apartment List. Rents increased 1.4 percent from December 2018 to December 2019, although some cities actually are bucking the trend and seeing rent costs fall.

Boston slightly exceeded the national increase, showing the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment increase by 1.5 percent from December 2018 to December 2019. But that was less than Massachusetts as a whole, which increased 2.1 percent, and less than a number of other Bay State towns and cities, including Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, Waltham and Malden and Quincy.

The following chart shows median rents in a number of Massachusetts communities. The figures denote rent for a one-bedroom apartment, the percentage increase for the one-bedroom, rent for a two-bedroom apartment and the percent increase for a two-bedroom:

• Boston: $1,710; -0.4% $2,120; 1.5%
• Lowell: $1,240; -0.1 % $1,540, 1.2%
• Cambridge: $1,860; 0 % . $2,310; 3.2%
• Brockton: $1,210; -2.3%; $1,500; -1.4%
• Quincy: $1,540; 0 % $1,910; 2.9%
• Newton: $1,800x; 0.2% $2,230; 2.8%
• Lawrence: $1,450; 0.9% $1,800; 2.8%
• Somerville: $1,770;0.1% $2,200; 4.5%
• Framingham: $1,540; -0.5% $1,910; 2.1%
• Haverhill: $1,230; -0.8% $1,530; -0.1%
• Waltham: $1,760; 0.7% $2,180; 2.8%
• Malden: $1,570; 1.5% $1,950; 8.1%
• Brookline: $2,150; 0.7% $2,670; 1.1%
• Medford: $1,720; -1.7% $2,130; 0.1%
• Peabody: $1,550; 0.5% $1,920; 1.8 %
• Salem: $1,450; 0.1% $1,800; 5.6%
• Beverly: $1,370; 1.4% $1,700; 2%
• Marlborough: $1,330; -1% $1,660; 4.9%
• Woburn: $1,620; -0.5% $2,010; 2%
• Melrose: $1,410; -3.3% $1,740, 0 %

To determine the data, Apartment List uses the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Market Rent Calculation Methodology, but instead analyzes rental-specific market trends. Read more about the National Rent Report methodology.

According to the report, Mesa, Arizona, had the fastest year-over-year rent growth among cities with a population of 250,000 or more. In 2019, rent in Mesa increased 5.1 percent. Mesa was followed by Henderson, Nevada, at 4.3 percent, and Phoenix, Arizona, at 3.8 percent.

Stockton, California, led the cities with the fastest rent growth in the last five years. Since 2014, rent in Stockton has increased 28.5 percent.

These are the top 10 cities with the fastest rent growth in the last five years:

1. Stockton, California
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Mesa, Arizona
4. Arlington, Texas
5. Henderson, Nevada
6. Tampa, Florida
7. Aurora, Colorado
8. Phoenix, Arizona
9. Sacramento, California
10. Anaheim, California

Nationally, rent costs increased 11.3 percent since 2014. See the full report and where other communities rank here.