Renting

A running list of the cost to rent in nearly two dozen Mass. cities (Dec. 15)

Which cities have seen the biggest drops in rent? The biggest increases? Where can you get the most for your money?

Cambridge's median rent has dropped 15.2 percent year over year, according to a report released Tuesday. David L. Ryan/Globe staff

By Eileen Woods

December 15, 2020

4 minutes to read

Although Cambridge’s median rent has dropped 15.2 percent year over year, the city remained the most expensive community for renters in November, according to a report the online real estate site Zumper released Tuesday. Brookline ranked second (down 12.8 percent), and Boston, which saw a 14 percent decrease, was third. The city that experienced the biggest year-over-year price drop was Waltham (17.9 percent), while Lynn and Brockton posted the biggest jumps, 19.9 percent and 16.1 percent respectively.

From October to November, the median rent in Everett fell 5.1 percent, the biggest month-over-month drop in the cities surveyed, followed by Framingham (4.9 percent) and Waltham (4.8 percent). The city that saw the biggest rise in rent month over month was the same community that has experienced increases for the past three months, Melrose (2.5 percent).

(Check out: A running list of the cost to rent in every Boston neighborhood.)

The median rent for a one-bedroom unit in Massachusetts was $1,740 in November.

Here’s how several communities stacked up for the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment and the percentage change month over month and year over year:

November 2020

RANK	CITY	RENT	MOM	YOY
1	Cambridge	$2,240	-0.9%	-15.2%
2	Brookline	$2,180	0%	-12.8%
3	Boston	$2,150	-2.7%	-14%
4	Everett	$2,030	-5.1%	-10.6%
5	Beverly	$1,970	0%	2.6%
6	Newton	$1,940	-3%	-5.4%
7	Lynn	$1,930	0%	19.9%
8 (tie)	Medford	$1,900	-1.6%	-13.6%
8	Somerville	$1,900	-3.6%	-11.6%
10 (tie)	Quincy	$1,870	-4.1%	-5.1%
10	Revere	$1,870	0.5%	-15%
12 (tie)	Chelsea	$1,790	-2.2%	-8.7%
12	Waltham	$1,790	-4.8%	-17.9%
14 (tie)	Salem	$1,740	1.8%	4.8%
14	Woburn	$1,740	0%	-4.9%
16	Framingham	$1,730	-4.9%	-3.9%
17	Malden	$1,700	-4.5%	-11%
18	Melrose	$1,640	2.5%	-15%
19	Haverhill	$1,580	0%	1.3%
20	Lawrence	$1,570	0%	15.4%
21	Brockton	$1,440	0%	16.1%
22	Lowell	$1,420	-0.7%	-2.7%
23	Worcester	$1,310	2.3%	4.8%

October 2020

RANK	CITY	RENT	MOM	YOY
1	Cambridge	$2,260	-4.2%	-15%
2	Brookline	$2,250	0%	-10%
3	Boston	$2,210	-3.9%	-12.6%
4	Everett	$2,140	-4%	-7.4%
5	Newton	$2,000	0%	-4.8%
6	Beverly	$1,990	0%	7%
7	Somerville	$1,970	-1%	-8.4%
8	Quincy	$1,950	-2.5%	0%
9	Medford	$1,930	-2%	-8.1%
10	Waltham	$1,880	-5.1%	-11.7%
11	Revere	$1,860	-5.1%	-18.1%
12	Chelsea	$1,830	-1.1%	-4.2%
13	Framingham	$1,820	0%	0%
14	Malden	$1,780	-1.1%	-6.3%
15 (tie)	Salem	$1,710	4.9%	2.4%
15	Woburn	$1,710	0%	-5.5%
17	Melrose	$1,690	5.6%	-15.9%
18	Lynn	$1,620	-3%	15.7
19	Lawrence	$1,500	-3.8%	15.4%
20	Lowell	$1,430	-5.3%	-2.1%
21	Haverhill	$1,410	0%	-9%
22	Worcester	$1,280	0%	2.4%
23	Brockton	$1,260	-6%	15.6%

September 2020

RANK	CITY	RENT	MOM	YOY
1	Cambridge	$2,360	0.4%	-10.9%
2	Boston	$2,300	0%	-8.4%
3	Brookline	$2,290	0%	-2.1%
4	Everett	$2,230	-0.9%	-1.3%
5 (tie)	Quincy	$2,000	0%	1%
5	Newton	$2,000	0%	0%
7	Somerville	$1,990	-0.5%	-6.6%
8	Waltham	$1,980	-4.8%	-7%
9	Medford	$1,970	-4.8%	-9.6%
10	Revere	$1,960	-2%	-14.8%
11	Beverly	$1,930	0%	0%
12	Framingham	$1,890	0%	5.6%
13 (tie)	Woburn	$1,850	0%	1.6%
13	Chelsea	$1,850	0.5%	1.6%
15	Malden	$1,800	-1.6%	-2.7%
16	Melrose	$1,720	5.5%	-15.7%
17	Salem	$1,630	0%	-3.6%
18	Lowell	$1,510	-5%	2%
19	Lawrence	$1,500	-4.5%	15.4%
20	Haverhill	$1,420	0%	-8.4%
21	Brockton	$1,390	-5.4%	15.8%
22	Worcester	$1,320	0%	-0.8%

August 2020

RANK	CITY	RENT	MOM	YOY
1	Cambridge	$2,350	-2.9%	-9.6%
2	Brookline	$2,340	0%	-0.4%
3	Boston	$2,300	-2.1%	-8%
4	Everett	$2,250	4.7%	-3.4%
5	Waltham	$2,080	5.1%	0%
6	Medford	$2,070	0%	-1.4%
7 (tie)	Somerville	$2,000	-4.8%	-7%
7	Revere	$2,000	-0.5%	-8.7%
7	Quincy	$2,000	0%	0%
7	Newton	$2,000	0%	-4.8%
11	Woburn	$1,970	0%	-6.2%
12	Beverly	$1,880	0%	-3.6%
13	Framingham	$1,850	2.2%	4.5%
14	Chelsea	$1,840	5.1%	3.4%
15	Malden	$1,830	2.8%	4%
16	Melrose	$1,790	5.9%	-16%
17	Salem	$1,610	0%	-13%
18 (tie)	Lowell	$1,590	3.9%	8.9%
18	Lawrence	$1,590	0%	0%
20	Haverhill	$1,440	5.9%	-15.3%
21	Brockton	$1,390	0%	0%
22	Worcester	$1,280	-5.2%	-3.8%

July 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,420	-6.9%
2	Brookline	$2,390	-0.4%
3	Boston	$2,350	-6%
4	Everett	$2,150	-3.6%
5	Somerville	$2,100	-4.5%
6	Medford	$2,070	-1.4%
7	Revere	$2,010	-14.1%
8 (tie)	Quincy	$2,000	1%
8	Newton	$2,000	0%
10	Waltham	$1,980	-2%
11	Beverly	$1,950	8.9%
12	Woburn	$1,910	-6.4%
13	Framingham	$1,810	2.3%
14	Malden	$1,780	5.3%
15	Melrose	$1,770	6.6%
16	Chelsea	$1,750	-6.9%
17	Salem	$1,580	-15.1%
18	Lowell	$1,530	9.3%
19	Lawrence	$1,520	15.2%
20	Haverhill	$1,430	-10.1%
21	Brockton	$1,360	15.3%
22	Worcester	$1,350	5.5%

June 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,500	-0.8%
2	Boston	$2,410	-1.6%
3	Brookline	$2,390	0.4%
4	Everett	$2,200	0%
5	Medford	$2,130	1.4%
6	Somerville	$2,100	-5.8%
7	Quincy	$2,010	6.3%
8 (tie)	Newton	$2,000	2.6%
8	Revere	$2,000	-11.9%
10	Waltham	$1,950	-8%
11	Beverly	$1,890	-2.6%
12	Woburn	$1,820	-1.6%
13 (tie)	Framingham	$1,750	1.2%
13	Malden	$1,750	3.6%
15	Chelsea	$1,710	-5%
16	Melrose	$1,680	-1.2%
17 (tie)	Lawrence	$1,530	15%
17	Salem	$1,530	-3.8%
19	Lowell	$1,490	4.2%
20	Haverhill	$1,420	-7.8%
21	Brockton	$1,410	8.5%
22	Worcester	$1,330	0%

May 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,500	0%
2	Boston	$2,450	-2%
3	Brookline	$2,400	0%
4	Medford	$2,220	4.2%
5	Everett	$2,170	0%
6	Somerville	$2,130	-3.2%
7	Waltham	$2,050	-3.3%
8	Newton	$2,000	3.6%
9	Quincy	$2,000	11.1%
10	Revere	$2,000	-8.3%
11	Beverly	$1,880	11.9%
12	Woburn	$1,810	-5.7%
13	Framingham	$1,800	6.5%
14	Malden	$1,760	4.8%
15	Chelsea	$1,700	-5.6%
16	Melrose	$1,640	-8.9%
17	Salem	$1,610	3.9%
18	Lynn	$1,600	-3%
19	Lawrence	$1,460	15%
20	Lowell	$1,420	0%
21	Brockton	$1,370	10.5%
22	Haverhill	$1,350	-8.8%
23	Worcester	$1,280	-3.8%

April 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,520	1.2%
2	Boston	$2,500	3.3%
3	Brookline	$2,440	1.7%
4	Everett	$2,280	5.1%
5	Medford	$2,260	9.7%
6	Waltham	$2,160	1.9%
7	Somerville	$2,140	-0.5%
8	Revere	$2,100	-3.7%
9	Newton	$2,050	2.5%
10	Quincy	$2,020	8.6%
11	Beverly	$1,900	8.6%
12	Framingham	$1,830	7%
13	Woburn	$1,810	-14.2%
14	Chelsea	$1,780	-3.8%
15	Malden	$1,750	5.4%
16	Melrose	$1,730	1.8%
17	Salem	$1,690	-14.6%
18	Lynn	$1,600	6.7%
19	Lawrence	$1,470	15.7%
20	Lowell	$1,400	0.7%
21	Haverhill	$1,380	-2.1%
22	Brockton	$1,370	4.6%
23	Worcester	$1,280	-3.8%

March 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,350	2.8%
2 (tie)	Boston	$2,340	4.2%
2	Brookline	$2,300	6.4%
4	Everett	$2,250	9.8%
5	Waltham	$2,080	7.1%
7	Medford	$2,150	9.7%
6	Somerville	$2,240	6.7%
8	Revere	$2,120	-3.6%
9 (tie)	Newton	$2,000	3.1%
9	Quincy	$2,000	3.6%
11	Beverly	$1,920	14.3%
12	Chelsea	$1,870	3.9%
13 (tie)	Framingham	$1,800	9.5%
15 (tie)	Malden	$1,770	7.3%
16	Salem	$1,690	9%
13	Woburn	$1,800	-10.9%
15	Melrose	$1,770	-9.2%
17	Lynn	$1,600	-3%
18	Lawrence	$1,560	15.6%
19	Lowell	$1,470	3.5%
20	Haverhill	$1,390	6.9%
22	Worcester	$1,300	-2.3%
21	Brockton	$1,340	7.2%

February 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,620	6.1%
2 (tie)	Boston	$2,500	4.6%
2	Brookline	$2,500	6.4%
4	Everett	$2,260	13%
5	Waltham	$2,200	3.8%
6	Somerville	$2,150	2.4%
7	Revere	$2,140	11.5%
8	Medford	$2,100	1.9%
9	Newton	$2,050	7.9%
10	Quincy	$2,030	5.2%
11	Beverly	$1,920	0%
12	Framingham	$1,880	13.9%
13	Malden	$1,860	14.1%
14	Woburn	$1,850	2.8%
15	Chelsea	$1,790	-3.8%
16	Melrose	$1,690	-15.5%
17	Lawrence	$1,650	10.7%
18	Lynn	$1,630	3.2%
19	Salem	$1,610	1.9%
20	Lowell	$1,470	4.3%
21	Haverhill	$1,430	-.03%
22 (tie)	Brockton	$1,280	11.3%
22	Worcester	$1,280	-3.8%
23	Fall River	$1,050	0%

January 2020

1	Cambridge	$2,650	6%
2	Boston	$2,500	3.3%
3	Medford	$2,210	1.8%
4	Everett	$2,170	2.4%
5	Waltham	$2,150	1.4%
6 (tie)	Revere	$2,100	6.1%
6	Somerville	$2,100	0.5%
7	Newton	$2,050	7.9%
8	Quincy	$1,990	-2%
9	Malden	$1,960	15.3%
10	Woburn	$1,950	0%
11	Beverly	$1,920	2.1%
12	Chelsea	$1,850	0%
13	Framingham	$1,840	6.4%
14	Melrose	$1,800	-10%
15	Lynn	$1,590	6%
16	Salem	$1,560	0.6%
17	Haverhill	$1,500	-3.2%
18	Lowell	$1,410	1.4%
19	Lawrence	$1,400	9.3%
20	Worcester	$1,280	-3.8%
21	Brockton	$1,150	-8%
22	Fall River	$1,025	3.54%

December 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,750	10%
2	Boston	$2,590	5.7%
3	Medford	$2,310	6.5%
4	Everett	$2,190	7.4%
5	Somerville	$2,150	2.4%
6	Waltham	$2,130	-2.3%
7	Revere	$2,100	0%
8	Newton	$2,030	6.8%
9	Malden	$2,010	14.9%
10	Quincy	$2,000	0.5%
11	Beverly	$1,920	6.7%
12	Melrose	$1,900	-15.2%
13	Woburn	$1,890	15.2%
14	Chelsea	$1,880	6.2%
15	Framingham	$1,830	7.65%
16	Salem	$1,620	-4.1%
17	Haverhill	$1,580	-2.5%
18	Lynn	$1,510	-5.6%
19	Lowell	$1,410	1.4%
20	Lawrence	$1,300	5.17%
21	Worcester	$1,260	-5.3%
22	Brockton	$1,075	5.08%
23	Fall River	$1,025	-5.05%

November 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,640	5.2%
2	Boston	$2,500	0.8%
3	Everett	$2,270	3.2%
4 (tie)	Medford	$2,200	6.3%
4 (tie)	Revere	$2,200	3.3%
6	Waltham	$2,180	-4.8%
7	Somerville	$2,150	2.4%
8	Newton	$2,050	7.9%
9	Quincy	$1,970	1.5%
10	Chelsea	$1,960	13.3%
11	Malden	$1,910	15.8%
12	Framingham	$1,800	8.4%
13	Salem	$1,660	-1.8%
14	Haverhill	$1,550	2.65%
15	Lowell	$1,460	0%
16	Lawrence	$1,260	8.62%
17	Worcester	$1,250	-6.0%
18	Brockton	$1,050	-11.02%
19	Fall River	$915	-7.58%

October 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,660	6.4%
2	Boston	$2,530	5.4%
3	Everett	$2,310	5.5%
4	Revere	$2,270	9.7%
5	Somerville	$2,150	2.4%
6	Waltham	$2,130	-4.5%
7 (tie)	Medford	$2,100	6.6%
7	Newton	$2,100	9.9%
9	Quincy	$1,950	-1.5%
10	Chelsea	$1,910	3.2%
11	Malden	$1,900	11.8%
12	Salem	$1,670	-5.6%
13	Haverhill	$1,570	-1.25%
14	Lynn	$1,550	-3.1%
15	Lowell	$1,460	3.5%
16	Lawrence	$1,300	-10.16%
17	Worcester	$1,250	-6.0%
18	Brockton	$1,075	-14.6%
19	Fall River	$925	26.47%

September 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,650	9.1%
2	Boston	$2,510	6.4%
3	Revere	$2,300	12.7%
4	Everett	$2,260	5.1%
5	Medford	$2,180	15.3%
6 (tie)	Somerville	$2,130	1.4%
6	Waltham	$2,130	-4.9%
8	Newton	$2,000	5.3%
9	Quincy	$1,980	-3.4%
10	Malden	$1,850	12.1%
11	Chelsea	$1,820	2.2%
12	Haverhill	$1,700	3.23%
13	Lowell	$1,480	5%
14	Lawrence	$1,300	0%
15	Worcester	$1,290	-1.5%
16	Brockton	$1,190	0%
17	Fall River	$1,025	-2.86%

August 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,600	5.3%
2	Boston	$2,500	8.2%
3	Everett	$2,330	11.5%
4	Revere	$2,190	15.3%
5	Somerville	$2,150	0.9%
6 (tie)	Medford	$2,100	5.5%
6	Newton	$2,100	7.7%
8	Waltham	$2,080	-3.7%
9	Quincy	$2,000	0%
10 (tie)	Chelsea	$1,780	0%
10	Framingham	$1,780	10.6%
12	Malden	$1,760	6.7%
13	Haverhill	$1,700	9.6%
14	Lowell	$1,460	2.1%
15	Lawrence	$1,350	5.4%
16	Worcester	$1,330	6.4%
17	Brockton	$1,250	-2.9%
18	Fall River	$1,025	12%

July 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,600	4%
2	Boston	$2,500	6.8%
3	Somerville	$2,200	0%
4	Waltham	$2,120	-2.8%
5	Medford	$2,100	0.5%
6	Newton	$2,000	3.6%
7	Quincy	$1,980	0%
8	Framingham	$1,780	12.7%
9	Malden	$1,680	1.8%
10	Haverhill	$1,620	1.9%
11	Lowell	$1,390	-2.8%
12	Worcester	$1,330	6.4%
13	Lawrence	$1,320	-1.5%
14	Brockton	$1,240	-8.8%
15	Fall River	$1,070	7%

June 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,520	0.8%
2	Boston	$2,450	5.6%
3	Somerville	$2,230	1.4%
4	Waltham	$2,120	-4.9%
5	Medford	$2,100	-4.5%
6	Newton	$1,950	-1%
7	Quincy	$1,890	-2.1%
8	Framingham	$1,730	8.1%
9	Malden	$1,690	2.4%
10	Haverhill	$1,540	1.3%
11	Lowell	$1,430	-4.7%
12 (tie)	Lawrence	$1,330	-2.9%
12	Worcester	$1,330	3.9%
14	Brockton	$1,300	-4.4%
15	Fall River	$1,070	12.6%

May 2019

1 (tie)	Cambridge	$2,500	0.4%
1	Boston	$2,500	8.7%
3	Somerville	$2,200	0.9%
4	Medford	$2,130	1.4%
5	Waltham	$2,120	0%
6	Newton	$1,930	1.6%
7	Quincy	$1,800	-7.7%
8	Framingham	$1,690	8.3%
9	Malden	$1,680	1.8%
10	Haverhill	$1,480	-3.9%
11	Lowell	$1,420	-5.3%
12	Worcester	$1,330	0.8%
13	Lawrence	$1,270	-4.5%
14	Brockton	$1,240	-10.8%
15	Fall River	$1,070	10.3%

April 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,490	0.8%
2	Boston	$2,420	5.2%
3	Somerville	$2,150	3.4%
4	Waltham	$2,120	5%
5	Medford	$2,060	3%
6	Newton	$2,000	4.2%
7	Quincy	$1,860	-1.6%
8	Framingham	$1,710	8.2%
9	Malden	$1,660	0.6%
10 (tie)	Haverhill	$1,410	-13.%
10	Lowell	$1,410	-5.4%
12	Worcester	$1,330	5.6%
13	Brockton	$1,310	-3.7%
14	Lawrence	$1,210	-13.6%
15	Fall River	$1,070	15.1%

March 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,500	0.8%
2	Boston	$2,400	4.3%
3	Waltham	$2,120	10.4%
4	Somerville	$2,100	5%
5	Medford	$1,960	0%
6	Newton	$1,940	3.7%
7	Quincy	$1,930	7.2%
8	Framingham	$1,670	3.7%
9	Malden	$1,650	0%
10	Lowell	$1,420	-2.1%
11	Haverhill	$1,400	-9.7%
12	Worcester	$1,330	7.3%
13	Lawrence	$1,270	-11.8%
14	Brockton	$1,250	-3.8%
15	Fall River	$1,090	16%

February 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,470	-0.4%
2	Boston	$2,390	3.9
3	Waltham	$2,120	15.8%
4	Somerville	$2,100	5%
5	Medford	$2,060	6.2%
6	Quincy	$1,930	12.9%
7	Newton	$1,900	-3.6%
8	Framingham	$1,650	3.1%
9	Malden	$1,630	-3%
10	Haverhill	$1,470	-0.7%
11	Lowell	$1,410	2.2%
12	Lawrence	$1,340	-3.6%
13	Worcester	$1,330	-12.7%
14	Brockton	$1,190	-10.5%
15	Fall River	$1,040	15.6%

January 2019

1	Cambridge	$2,500	0.4%
2	Boston	$2,420	5.2%
3	Medford	$2,170	11.3%
4	Waltham	$2,120	15.8%
5	Somerville	$2,090	6.1%
6	Quincy	$2,030	14.7%
7	Newton	$1,900	1.1%
8	Framingham	$1,720	11%
9	Malden	$1,610	-5.3%
10	Haverhill	$1,550	6.9%
11	Lowell	$1,390	3%
12	Worcester	$1,330	15.7%
13	Lawrence	$1,280	-7.2%
14	Brockton	$1,250	-3.8%
15	Fall River	$990	12.5%

December 2018

1	Cambridge	$2,500	4.2%
2	Boston	$2,450	7.9%
3	Waltham	$2,180	16%
4	Medford	$2,170	10.7%
5	Somerville	$2,100	8.8%
6	Quincy	$1,990	10.6%
7	Newton	$1,900	3.8%
8	Framingham	$1,700	8.3%
9	Malden	$1,600	-5.9%
10	Haverhill	$1,590	4.6%
11	Lowell	$1,390	4.5%
12	Worcester	$1,330	15.7%
13	Brockton	$1,240	-6.8%
14	Lawrence	$1,220	-8.3%
15	Fall River	$940	8%

November 2018

1	Cambridge	$2,510	4.6%
2	Boston	$2,480	10.2%
3	Waltham	$2,290	15.7%
4	Somerville	$2,100	5%
5	Medford	$2,070	8.9%
6	Quincy	$1,940	9%
7	Newton	$1,900	0.5%
8	Framingham	$1,660	7.1%
9	Malden	$1,650	-2.9%
10	Haverhill	$1,510	4.1%
11	Lowell	$1,460	7.4%
12	Worcester	$1,330	15.7%
13	Brockton	$1,180	-8.5%
14	Lawrence	$1,160	-9.4%
15	Fall River	$990	11.2%

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A running list of the cost to rent in nearly two dozen Mass. cities (Dec. 15)

Which cities have seen the biggest drops in rent? The biggest increases? Where can you get the most for your money?

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