True Cost of Renting in Somerville, MA
Somerville has transformed from working-class industrial city to one of Boston's most desirable urban neighborhoods. The 2022 Green Line Extension opened Assembly and additional Union Square stations, dramatically improving transit access. Davis Square's walkable commercial district and proximity to Tufts University and Cambridge make it one of Greater Boston's most competitive rental markets.
Neighborhoods & Average Rents
Davis Square
- Studio:
- $2,100/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $2,600/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $3,700/mo
Walkable neighborhood with excellent restaurants and MBTA Red Line access; Tufts University is adjacent. Broker fees standard. Eversource electric. Historic triple-decker apartment buildings define the housing stock — older units with smaller square footage but strong character.
Union Square / Magoun Square
- Studio:
- $2,000/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $2,500/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $3,500/mo
Rapidly gentrifying neighborhood with new Green Line Extension access; excellent eclectic restaurant scene. New construction mixed with older triple-deckers. GLX access makes this significantly more transit-connected than 2020.
Winter Hill / Ball Square
- Studio:
- $1,800/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $2,300/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $3,200/mo
Somerville's more affordable northern neighborhoods; similar triple-decker housing stock. Ball Square is becoming more active. MBTA Red Line at Davis reachable by short bus or bike. Lower rents than Davis/Union with similar housing quality.
Utility Providers
- Electric
- Eversource Energy
- Water
- Somerville Water Department (often included in lease)
- Internet
- Comcast Xfinity, RCN, Verizon Fios
Commute & Transportation
Somerville is served by the MBTA Red Line at Davis Square and Porter Square, plus the new Green Line Extension (Union Square, Magoun Square, Ball Square, East Somerville, Assembly). The proximity to Cambridge and Boston means most professional employment is accessible by transit in 20–35 minutes. Assembly Row on the Orange Line is a major retail and employment hub in eastern Somerville. Biking to Cambridge (MIT, Harvard) is common via Mass Ave. Major employers: Tufts University, Lesley University, Assembly Row commercial district, and proximity to Cambridge biotech.
Rental Market Overview
Somerville rents have risen dramatically — from working-class affordable to near-Boston pricing in a decade. The GLX dramatically changed Union Square's transit value, accelerating gentrification there. Eversource rates add $80–130/mo. Triple-deckers are the signature housing type — the top floor in summer can be hot; the top floor in winter loses heat. Ask about insulation before signing. Broker fees are standard. The September cycle affects Somerville as strongly as Boston. Renters insurance averages $16–24/month.
Data last updated: 2026-04
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