Rent by ZIP code in Worcester
| ZIP code | County | Typical rent | vs city median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01605 | Worcester County | $2,370 | +9% |
| 01606 | Worcester County | $2,341 | +8% |
| 01602 | Worcester County | $2,334 | +7% |
| 01607 | Worcester County | $2,197 | +1% |
| 01604 | Worcester County | $2,174 | 0% |
| 01610 | Worcester County | $2,128 | -2% |
| 01603 | Worcester County | $2,063 | -5% |
| 01608 | Worcester County | $1,953 | -10% |
| 01609 | Worcester County | $1,886 | -13% |
Rent by bedroom count in Worcester
Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Worcester County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for.
| Unit size | FY2027 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,323 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,571 |
| 2 bedroom | $1,900 |
| 3 bedroom | $2,419 |
| 4 bedroom | $2,828 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.
Is rent going up or down in Worcester?
Typical rent across Worcester County is $2,133 as of August 2026. That is up 1.3% from a year earlier and up 35.2% over five years.
| Year | Typical rent, Worcester County | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,649 | +11.8% |
| 2022 | $1,800 | +9.2% |
| 2023 | $1,931 | +7.2% |
| 2024 | $2,041 | +5.7% |
| 2025 | $2,133 | +4.5% |
| 2026 (through August) | $2,133 | -0.0% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.
Worcester rent questions
- What is the average rent in Worcester, MA?
- Typical asking rent in Worcester is $2,174 a month as of July 2026, across 9 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,886 to $2,370.
- How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Worcester?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Worcester County is $1,900 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,571 and a three bedroom is $2,419. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
- Is rent going up or down in Worcester?
- Rent is rising. Typical rent in Worcester County is $2,133 as of August 2026, up 1.3% from a year earlier.
- What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Worcester?
- ZIP 01609 has the lowest typical asking rent in Worcester at $1,886 a month, compared with $2,174 for the city overall.
- How much income do you need to rent in Worcester?
- Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Worcester rent of $2,174, that is about $6,522 a month, or $78,264 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.
How to use these numbers
These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.
If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Worcester sits in the Worcester, MA-CT metro area.