Boston experienced a substantial 12.5% increase in three-bedroom single-family rents during the first half of 2025, reaching an average of $4,500. To afford this rent, an annual household income of at least $180,000 is required. In Cambridge, median rents for similar homes soared to $6,000, necessitating an income of $240,000 to maintain a rent-to-income ratio of 30%. Rent growth is partly due to larger homes and limited inventory. Suburban areas showed varied increases, with Waltham and Newton experiencing 7.7% and 1.6% increases, respectively.
This surge was partly driven by a greater share of larger, higher-priced homes being listed and a tight inventory of single-family rentals, making local data more susceptible to fluctuations.
While the average price per square foot has remained relatively stable, renters are facing higher total costs simply because the available homes are larger and come with a bigger price tag overall.
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