9 Cheapest Places to Live in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ colonial history and growth as a transportation and economic hub make it a diverse place to live, work, and place. Despite the Northeast's reputation for a high cost of living, you can still find cheap places to live in Massachusetts.

Ready to move to the roots of American history and industry? Discover some of the cheapest places to live in Massachusetts.

Note: The data provided below comes from our rent estimates. These numbers expand beyond those listed on our platform. For further information, learn about our methodology.

Massachusetts State Average Rent Prices

Massachusetts average rental prices are on the rise. Here’s what to expect to pay in Massachusetts for different apartment sizes:

• The average rent for a Massachusetts studio apartment is: $1,544.11
• The average rent for a Massachusetts one-bedroom apartment is: $1,839.80
• The average rent for a Massachusetts two-bedroom apartment is: $2,334.04
• The average rent for a Massachusetts three-bedroom apartment is: $2,518.52

1. Worcester

• Population: 206,518
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $1,813.00
• Rent Increase in the Past Year: 12.96%
• Median Household Income: $48,139

Worcester was founded in 1731 and soon became a center of American revolutionary activity. It also became home to the radical newspaper, the Massachusetts Spy, and was where Thomas Jefferson first performed his public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Like many areas around Massachusetts, factories and textiles were driving economic forces during the 1800s.

Worcester's biggest employers and industries include healthcare, the University of Massachusetts Medical Group, insurance, public schools, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Unfortunately, the job outlook isn't as robust in Worcester compared to the rest of the country, but the neighborhood boasts a low cost of living.

Worcester welcomes college students with prestigious institutions, including Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, and Worcester State University. Reasonable rents, quality schools, and green space draw families to settle in Worcester.

You don't need to live in Boston's expensive city center to enjoy the culture in Massachusetts. Worcester is home to a renowned art museum, The Hanover Theater, Conservatory for the Performing Arts, and historic Mechanics Hall. As a college town, stops like Wormtown Brewery are among local favorites. Plus, residents can walk to many pizza joints and eateries.

Worcester may have a reputation as a city with industrial roots, though it still boasts tranquil green space. Cascading Waters is a hot spot for hiking and strolling, and Elm Park is among the country's oldest and publicly financed parks. The unique EcoTarium features exhibits, live animals, a nature trail, and seasonal train rides for visitors.

Learn more about the average rent in Worcester.

2. Revere

• Population: 62,186
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,079.33
• Rent Increase in the Past Year: 12.25%
• Median Household Income: $62,568

Revere is known for Paul Revere's midnight ride through Boston, where he alerted revolutionaries that the British were coming. His heroic participation in the battle of Rumney Marsh eventually led to the renaming of the area Revere. As a result, the neighborhood offers Boston access without paying the high urban rents.

Revere offers strong job opportunities. However, Revere's largest employers are in healthcare, hospitality, and retail and are experiencing continued growth.

Renters come to Revere for a quick commute to Downtown Boston, but the area is also welcoming to families. You’ll get more space in Revere and access to quality schools, parks, and greenspace. Culture and nightlife are plenty in the urban core of Boston. However, you can’t beat the access to the nation's first public beach at Revere Beach.

Boston's dining scene isn't far away from Revere, but the neighborhood also offers its own options. Floramo's Restaurant serves BBQ ribs, pasta dishes, and steaks. The four-diamond rated Mamma Maria Restaurant features upscale Italian entrees, including veal cotoletta and wild shrimp risotto. Belle Isle features lobster rolls, fried clams, and haddock dinners with views of the water.

Learn more about the average rent in Revere.

3. Peabody

• Population: 54,481
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,142.33
• Rent Increase in the Past Year: 14.44%
• Median Household Income: $73,217

English colonists settled the area of Peabody as part of the Salem settlement in 1626. Once a farming community, Peabody's surrounding rivers and streams were operated by water power. The area was also home to many mills and became a hub of New England's leather industry.

Although recent job growth has been sluggish in Peabody, it's set to surpass the US average. Major industries and employers around Peabody include education, finance, medicine, and consulting. Vanderbilt Peabody College draws students and academic staff.

Peabody lacks urban amenities, though still offers a cozy feel. Brooksby Farm is situated near the North Shore and is an idyllic spot for seasonal apple picking. Locals bike ride along the Independence Greenway Bike Route past meadows and tranquil landscapes.

Locals can make the 16-mile journey into Boston for more attractions, restaurants, and nightlife. Traffic gets intense around Boston, but the short distance to Peabody opens up more job opportunities for locals.

Learn more about the average rent in Peabody.

4. Boston

• Population:675,647
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,154.33
• Rent Increase in the Past Year: 14.44%
• Median Household Income: $71,115

You can still find some affordable rents in Boston compared to nearby metro areas. The city was founded in 1630 by Puritan colonists and became the political and commercial center of the region. After battles with the British, which damaged much of the city's economy, the city recovered as a transportation hub with railroads, schools, and medical centers.

Rent isn’t as cheap in Boston as the rest of Massachusetts, though the city has a booming economy and top-rated job market. Boston remains an economic powerhouse and is considered a premier place to do business in the US. Its biggest industries include finance, research and development, tourism, medicine, education, commercial fishing, government, and more.

Millennials and college students make themselves at home in Boston, attending Boston College, MIT, Northeastern University, and nearby Harvard University. The job market, rich history, waterfront views, and green space make it an idyllic city for families.

It’s hard to feel bored in Boston with so much to see and do. Locals and visitors stroll the Freedom Trail for a walk through history or to see the city while popping in and out of historic pubs and eateries. Sports lovers unite at Fenway Park, and culture lovers stop by the 600,000-square-foot Museum of Fine Arts. The North End is filled with shops, pubs, and cafes for a taste of Old Word meets new.

There are plenty of green spaces to visit, and Boston Public Garden boasts 600 varieties of trees, flowers and owns the title as America's first public garden. Boston Common, Quincy Market, and Faneuil Hall Marketplace are all perfect stops for the best in urban outdoors. Come hungry for lobster rolls, clam chowder, and restaurant hopping along the way.

Learn more about the average rent in Boston.

5. Norwood

• Population: 31,611
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,272.00
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 10.74%
• Median Household Income: $90,133

Norwood is known for its family-friendly setting and tree-lined streets. With just a 30-minute commute to Boston, Norwood attracts professionals and families looking for a laid-back lifestyle. Locals still have access to Boston's culture and job opportunities while enjoying quality schools, shopping, and dining.

Norwood's population is on the rise with reasonable rent and housing prices compared to the rest of the Boston area.

While you’ll need to commute into Boston to take advantage of the booming job market, there are still options in Norwood. Locals can choose to work in manufacturing, hospitality, building materials, and retail without leaving the city limits.

Norwood's quiet community may lack nightlife and bustling attractions, though community-friendly gatherings and events are plentiful. Locals learn the art of glass blowing at Luke Adams Glass and sip brews at the Castle Island Brewing Company. Popular dining options in Norwood include the upscale Byblos for Greek cuisine. The Chateau Restaurant Norwood serves shrimp scampi and pasta at the family-friendly restaurant.

Learn more about the average rent in Norwood.

6. Woburn

• Population: 31,611
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,275.67
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 17.67%
• Median Household Income: $90,133

Woburn is an affordable suburb with direct access to I-93 and 95 to reach the rest of the Boston area. The 13-square-mile city dates back to the 1600s and features buildings and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable buildings include the towering First Church of Woburn standing almost 200-feet tall and the historic Winn Memorial Library.

Woburn attracts professionals with its 12-mile commute into Downtown Boston and is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city with quality schools for families. Woburn is also a good option for students attending nearby Tufts University located in nearby Medford.

The job market may be limited in Woburn, though Marshall's distribution center offers a few strong options. Locals find employment in facilities management, manufacturing, construction, IT, and property management.

While Woburn's quiet community doesn't boast nightlife, it offers a nature stop at Horn Pond and good beer at Lord Hobo Brewing Company. The beautiful and ornate Woburn Public Library dates back to 1856 and was the first library designed by architect H. H. Richardson.

Learn more about the average rents in Woburn.

7. Framingham

• Population: 72,362
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,311.67
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 16.46%
• Median Household Income: $82,709

Europeans settled Framingham along the west bank of the Sudbury River on an ancient trail known as the Old Connecticut Path. The town was an annual gathering spot for abolitionists and the anti-slavery society. After World War II, Framginham's population boomed and soon grew into the "largest town" in Massachusetts.

Today, Framingham is the corporate headquarters of several companies, including Bose Corporation, Staples, and TJX. Job growth recently outpaced the US average and is set to surpass the US average within the next ten years. Framingham State University offers higher education opportunities in town and a mix of community colleges and private institutions.

Locals make the 23-mile trek into Boston for cultural opportunities and nightlife. Framingham is home to nature stops, including the New England Wild Flower Society Garden in the Woods. Throughout the gardens, you’ll find a gorgeous lilypond, plenty of wildlife, and blossoming cacti. At Callahan State Park, trails and woods wind past a pond and an old cabin nestled in the woods.

Learn more about the average rent in Framingham.

8. Malden

• Population: 66,263
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,328.00
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 14%
• Median Household Income: $65,975

Malden was settled in the mid-17th century, which is why it’s rich with American Revolution history. Today, the area is known for its diversity and desirable neighborhoods that draw professionals and families looking for a high quality of life. Malden isn't as inexpensive as other nearby suburbs, but it is still more affordable than Boston's urban core.

You’ll find job opportunities are in healthcare, retail, tech, science, and education industries. Downtown Boston is less than 7-miles away, opening up other career trajectories for Malden locals.

Malden is among the top places to raise a family in Massachusetts thanks to its great schools, parks, and historical stops. For an afternoon of hiking, locals head to the trails at Middlesex Fells Reservation.

Despite its family-friendliness, you can still find adult-sized fun at the popular Idle Hands Brewery and fabulous food. Mystic Station offers affordable pub food and microbrews and Exchange Street Bistro serves French-Spanish fusion cuisine. For authentic eats, Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant features traditional dishes in a communal setting.

Learn more about the average rent in Malden.

9. Quincy

• Population: 101,636
• Median 2-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,337.33
• Rent Change in the Past Year: 19%
• Median Household Income: $77,562

Quincy, Massachusetts, was settled in 1625 and became the city of innovation. In fact, Quincy was the founding city of Howard Johnson's and Dunkin Donuts, the first commercial railroad in the United States, and produced the only seven-masted schooner ever built.

Quincy's reputation as a “bedroom community” means more space, more peace and quiet, and fewer central job opportunities. Some of the more prominent industries in Quincy include insurance, telecommunications, and retail. Locals often make the 10-mile commute into Boston to grow their careers. The median age in Quincy is 40, though the city also welcomes families and students.

Historical stops around town include Quincy Homestead, Thomas Crane Public Library, and USS Salem & United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum. Locals can also tour the United First Parish Church, where President Adams, John Quincy Adams, and their wives Abigail Adams & Louis Catherine Adams, were laid to rest.

Quincy's waterfront location provides locals with proximity to places like Wollaston Beach. Marina Bay offers docks and boat rentals to get out on the water. Garden and historic home stops include Adams National Historical Park to see the preserved home of United States presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

Learn more about the average rent in Quincy.

Cheapest Cities in Massachussetts Data

Learn more abou the average rent for two-bedroom apartments in Massachussetts and their year-over-year growth.

Final Thoughts - Where Should I Move to in Massachusetts?

From waterfront towns to urban metropolises, these are the cheapest places to live in Massachusetts. Whether you want rich history, a booming economy, or proximity to all the amenities you need, you’ll find them here. Ready to make a move? Sign up for Apartment List to find an affordable apartment in Massachusetts.

If you're concerned about the cost of living in Massachusetts, learn about the true cost of renting. You can also consider subletting, living in a short-term rental, or finding a move-in special!