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

Compare Apartments in Somerville

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Somerville: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Somerville?
One-bedroom apartments in Somerville range from $2,300/month in Winter Hill / Ball Square to $2,600/month in Davis Square. Two-bedroom units range from $3,200 to $3,700/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Somerville?
In Somerville, electricity is provided by Eversource Energy, water by Somerville Water Department (often included in lease), and common internet providers include Comcast Xfinity, RCN, Verizon Fios. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Somerville.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Somerville?
Winter Hill / Ball Square is the most affordable of the 3 Somerville neighborhoods covered here, at $2,300/month for a one-bedroom — $300 less than Davis Square, roughly a 12% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Somerville expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Somerville runs about $2,467/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Somerville rents have risen dramatically — from working-class affordable to near-Boston pricing in a decade. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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