County FMR · HUD FY2026
Middlesex County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Middlesex County, MA - 158% above the US average.
- $2,476
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,941
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.2%
- YoY change
- +158%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Middlesex is the 3rd most expensive of 14 counties in Massachusetts by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 8.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #3
- most expensive of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR)
- +38%
- vs the state average
- $99,040
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +8.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (19.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (84.7%); only 3 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Massachusetts counties range as much as 79% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Middlesex County, MA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Middlesex County, Massachusetts is $2,476 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,941/mo and a studio is $2,359/mo. This is 158% higher than the national average of $959 and 38% above the Massachusetts average of $1,796.
Rent increased8.2% from FY 2025 ($2,288), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $99,040/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Massachusetts. Population: 23,961. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.7%, Census ACS). That's in line with Massachusetts's statewide growth of +2.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Middlesex County
The Middlesex County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Massachusetts's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 158% above the US average of $959 and 38% higher than the Massachusetts state average of $1,796. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$2,288 in FY 2025 to $2,476 in FY 2026 - a change of +8.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,476, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $99,040 per year (about $8,253/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,941 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 23,961 and a county median household income of $126,779, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,163 | $2,359 | +$196 (+9.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,288 | $2,476 | +$188 (+8.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,711 | $2,941 | +$230 (+8.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,266 | $3,526 | +$260 (+8.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,594 | $3,894 | +$300 (+8.3%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Middlesex County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Middlesex County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Middlesex sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,941 Top 1% higher than 99% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Middlesex compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Massachusetts counties
- Middlesex
Middlesex County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Suffolk
Suffolk County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Essex
Essex County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Barnstable
Barnstable County
$1,846 1BR FMR / mo
- Plymouth
Plymouth County
$1,761 1BR FMR / mo
- Hampshire
Hampshire County
$1,580 1BR FMR / mo
- Hampden
Hampden County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Middlesex is highlighted. Nearby Massachusetts counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Middlesex County (this county) ($2,476), Suffolk County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Barnstable County ($1,846), Plymouth County ($1,761), Hampshire County ($1,580), Hampden County ($1,382).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $2,476/mo compares to Massachusetts salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $150,520 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $123,850 | 24% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $101,970 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,580 | 30.8% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $83,260 | 35.7% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $82,120 | 36.2% | Stretched |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,610 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $74,990 | 39.6% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,630 | 49% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $48,060 | 61.8% | Unaffordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $44,640 | 66.6% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $44,570 | 66.7% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $37,920 | 78.4% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,320 | 81.8% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,060 | 84.7% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Middlesex County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Middlesex (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 30.3% overall, from $1,900 to $2,476. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.7% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.2% | $2,359 | $2,476 | $2,941 |
| FY 2025 ↓3.7% | $2,163 | $2,288 | $2,711 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.1% | $2,212 | $2,377 | $2,827 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.7% | $2,025 | $2,198 | $2,635 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.2% | $1,803 | $1,986 | $2,399 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.3% | $1,742 | $1,924 | $2,336 |
| FY 2020 | $1,715 | $1,900 | $2,311 |
Part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
Middlesex County is a central county of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, alongside 6 other metro-area counties.
Middlesex County ranks #3 of 7 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Suffolk County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Middlesex County (this county) ($2,476), Plymouth County ($1,761), Norfolk County ($1,761), Rockingham County ($1,730), Strafford County ($1,677).
Nearby Counties in Massachusetts
Largest counties by population in Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Middlesex County? ▼
How does Middlesex County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Middlesex County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Middlesex County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Middlesex County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Middlesex County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Middlesex County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Middlesex County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Middlesex's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,476 implies about $99,040/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Middlesex can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.