Average Rent in Worcester, MA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Worcester is $2,152. Across the 8 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,875 to $2,272, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of September 2026.

Median rent
$2,152
Average rent
$2,111
Lowest ZIP
$1,875
Highest ZIP
$2,272

Rent by ZIP code in Worcester

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
01605Worcester County$2,272+6%
01606Worcester County$2,221+3%
01602Worcester County$2,218+3%
01604Worcester County$2,175+1%
01610Worcester County$2,128-1%
01603Worcester County$2,073-4%
01609Worcester County$1,928-10%
01608Worcester County$1,875-13%

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 sizeFY2027 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 $2,119 as of September 2026. That is up 1.6% from a year earlier and up 32.4% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Worcester CountyChange
2021$1,649+11.8%
2022$1,800+9.2%
2023$1,931+7.2%
2024$2,041+5.7%
2025$2,110+3.4%
2026 (through September)$2,119+0.4%

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 $2,152 a month as of September 2026, across 8 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,875 to $2,272.
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 $2,119 as of September 2026, up 1.6% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Worcester?
ZIP 01608 has the lowest typical asking rent in Worcester at $1,875 a month, compared with $2,152 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 $2,152, that is about $6,456 a month, or $77,472 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.

Other Massachusetts cities

Would a rental in Worcester cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Worcester median rent of $2,152 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.