Massachusetts · FIPS 25009 · HUD FY 2027
Essex County, Massachusetts Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Essex County is $3,008 a month (rent plus utilities), 17% above the Massachusetts average of $2,566 and 71% above the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $67 (2.3%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $120,320 a year to afford it.
- $3,0082-bedroom FMR+$67 (+2.3%) vs FY 2026
- $2,5181-bedroom FMRMassachusetts: $2,087 · U.S.: $1,478
- $120,320Income for a 2-bedroom$58/hour full-time
- 2 of 142BR rank in Massachusetts1 = highest rent
| Unit | Essex County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Massachusetts avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,440 | $2,359 | +$81 (+3.4%) | $1,994 | $1,379 | $97,600 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,518 | $2,476 | +$42 (+1.7%) | $2,087 | $1,478 | $100,720 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,008 | $2,941 | +$67 (+2.3%) | $2,566 | $1,761 | $120,320 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,584 | $3,526 | +$58 (+1.6%) | $3,111 | $2,266 | $143,360 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,953 | $3,894 | +$59 (+1.5%) | $3,453 | $2,607 | $158,120 |
How Essex County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH metro FMR area, which covers 3,605,178 residents in 6 counties.
- In New England HUD sets rents by town. Essex County has 34 towns in 2 FMR areas; the figures above are for Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH, home to 62% of residents. See the town table below.
- Across Massachusetts, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,704 (Berkshire County) to $3,583 (Nantucket County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $2,440, $2,518, $3,008, $3,584, $3,953. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 33 ZIP codes mostly in Essex County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $2,650 to $3,420.
Fair Market Rents by town in Essex County
| Town | FMR area | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amesbury city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 17,403 |
| Andover town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 36,652 |
| Beverly city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 42,665 |
| Boxford town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 8,208 |
| Danvers town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 28,098 |
| Essex town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 3,701 |
| Georgetown town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 8,474 |
| Gloucester city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 30,075 |
| Groveland town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 6,777 |
| Hamilton town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 7,600 |
| Haverhill city | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 67,698 |
| Ipswich town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 13,930 |
| Lawrence city | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 88,736 |
| Lynn city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 101,709 |
| Lynnfield town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 13,064 |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 5,403 |
| Marblehead town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 20,413 |
| Merrimac town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 6,748 |
| Methuen city | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 53,475 |
| Middleton town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 9,816 |
| Nahant town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 3,325 |
| Newbury town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 6,777 |
| Newburyport city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 18,652 |
| North Andover town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 31,490 |
| Peabody city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 54,695 |
| Rockport town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 7,009 |
| Rowley town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 6,251 |
| Salem city | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 44,795 |
| Salisbury town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 9,281 |
| Saugus town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 28,773 |
| Swampscott town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 15,277 |
| Topsfield town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 6,564 |
| Wenham town | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,440 | $2,518 | $3,008 | $3,584 | $3,953 | 4,929 |
| West Newbury town | Lawrence, MA-NH | $1,677 | $1,809 | $2,367 | $2,820 | $3,111 | 4,591 |
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Essex County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01833 | $2,130 | $2,300 | $3,010 | $3,590 | $3,960 | +$10 (+0.3%) | about the same as |
| 01845 | $2,130 | $2,300 | $3,010 | $3,590 | $3,960 | +$20 (+0.7%) | about the same as |
| 01901 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01902 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01904 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01905 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01906 | $2,440 | $2,520 | $3,010 | $3,590 | $3,960 | +$320 (+11.9%) | about the same as |
| 01907 | $2,500 | $2,580 | $3,080 | $3,670 | $4,050 | −$10 (−0.3%) | 2% above |
| 01908 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$60 (+2.3%) | 12% below |
| 01913 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01915 | $2,270 | $2,340 | $2,800 | $3,340 | $3,680 | +$120 (+4.5%) | 7% below |
| 01921 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01922 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01923 | $2,220 | $2,290 | $2,740 | $3,260 | $3,600 | +$50 (+1.9%) | 9% below |
| 01929 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01930 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01937 | $2,220 | $2,290 | $2,740 | $3,260 | $3,600 | +$50 (+1.9%) | 9% below |
| 01938 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01940 | $2,770 | $2,860 | $3,420 | $4,070 | $4,490 | +$170 (+5.2%) | 14% above |
| 01944 | $2,160 | $2,230 | $2,660 | $3,180 | $3,510 | no change | 12% below |
| 01945 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01949 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01950 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01951 | $2,220 | $2,290 | $2,740 | $3,260 | $3,600 | +$40 (+1.5%) | 9% below |
| 01952 | $2,150 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$60 (+2.3%) | 12% below |
| 01960 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01965 | $2,250 | $2,320 | $2,770 | $3,310 | $3,650 | +$110 (+4.1%) | 8% below |
| 01966 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01969 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01970 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01982 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01983 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
| 01984 | $2,130 | $2,230 | $2,650 | $3,180 | $3,510 | +$90 (+3.5%) | 12% below |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.