North Shore Rent Index · February 2026
January rents fall to $2,691 as the winter slowdown continues
Monthly asking rents, listings and time on market across Boston's North Shore. Covers January 2026 data.
- The average asking rent across the North Shore was $2,691 in January 2026, down 1.2% from December and 5.6% from January 2025 ($2,851).
- 5,002 rentals were on the market, up 0.9% from December.
- Listings had been on the market for 36.1 days on average, compared with 37.8 days in December and 27.8 days a year earlier.
“January saw the biggest monthly fall this winter, with asking rents down 1.2% to $2,691. That's the fifth fall in a row and the lowest average in 12 months.”
“There are early signs the market is turning. Listings rose 0.9% to 5,002 and the average time on market improved to 36.1 days, down from 37.8 in December.”
“Landlords renting out a home in the next few weeks should expect a slower process than in the summer. Pricing close to the local average and allowing flexible viewing times will help.”
Average asking rent, January 2026
Change on the previous month and the same month last year
-5.6% vs. last year
n/a vs. last year
n/a vs. last year
-3.9% vs. last year
-3.0% vs. last year
year change n/a*
Market summary
January is usually one of the quietest months of the year for rentals. The North Shore average asking rent fell 1.2% to $2,691 in January 2026, the fifth consecutive monthly fall. This is the lowest average in 12 months. Compared with January 2025, rents are down 5.6%.
Active listings rose 0.9% from December to 5,002. Listings had been on the market for 36.1 days on average, down from 37.8 days in December and up from 27.8 days a year ago.
By size, two bedroom homes saw the largest annual fall (-3.9% to $2,859), while three bedroom homes held up best (-3.0% to $3,285). Two bedroom homes, the largest segment with 1,857 listings, averaged $2,859 (-3.9% year over year) and spent 33.0 days on the market, against 27.6 days a year ago. Studios were the slowest to rent at 51.4 days. Annual changes for studios and one bedroom homes are not shown this month, because the source data did not report studios separately before March 2025.
Among towns with at least 10 listings, North Reading, Nahant and Methuen recorded the strongest annual growth (+15.4%, +8.7%, +1.7%). The largest falls were in Reading, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Marblehead (-19.0%, -15.2%, -14.9%).
Over the past 12 months, the five largest rental markets, Malden, Revere, Everett, Chelsea and Lynn, accounted for 48% of North Shore listings. Of towns with 30 or more listings, North Reading, Lynnfield and Lawrence had the shortest average time on market (10, 13, 24 days) and Marblehead, Newburyport and Winthrop the longest. Haverhill, Lynn and Lawrence remain the most affordable markets, with average asking rents from $2,157.
Average asking rent
All property types, North Shore, Jan 25 to Jan 26
Average asking rent by bedrooms
Studio, one, two and three bedroom homes. Studios were not reported separately before March 2025
Active rental listings
Homes on the market each month. Source coverage was lower from Dec 2024 to Feb 2025
Time on market
Average days on market for active listings
Town by town
Where the rentals are
Average monthly active listings, Feb 25 to Jan 26, 20 largest markets
Days on market by town
Average days on market, January 2026, towns with 30 or more listings
Annual change in asking rent
Jan 26 vs Jan 25. Towns with fewer than 10 listings are excluded
All towns, January 2026
Average asking rent, change, rent by bedrooms, listings and days on market. * fewer than 10 listings, treat with caution. Bedroom rents with fewer than 3 listings are not shown.
| Town | Avg rent | Month | Year | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Listings | 12-mo avg listings | Days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amesbury | $2,780 | +2.3% | -6.5% | – | $2,440 | $2,679 | $2,950 | 54 | 34 | 25 |
| Andover | $2,861 | -4.5% | -7.6% | $1,715 | $2,307 | $3,039 | $4,177 | 138 | 155 | 27 |
| Beverly | $2,614 | -1.8% | -11.7% | $1,941 | $2,257 | $2,818 | $3,444 | 162 | 138 | 40 |
| Boxford* | $6,433 | +13.4% | +58.8% | – | – | – | – | 3 | 2 | 40 |
| Byfield* | $3,248 | -4.9% | n/a | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Chelsea | $2,518 | -0.7% | -9.3% | $1,870 | $2,447 | $2,948 | $2,954 | 438 | 425 | 29 |
| Danvers | $2,837 | +1.4% | -5.5% | $1,835 | $2,265 | $2,897 | $3,541 | 119 | 103 | 36 |
| Essex* | $3,200 | +5.5% | -8.3% | – | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | 62 |
| Everett | $2,810 | -1.0% | -5.9% | $2,486 | $2,571 | $2,951 | $2,987 | 378 | 488 | 25 |
| Georgetown* | $2,817 | -6.9% | +40.9% | – | – | – | – | 5 | 3 | 42 |
| Gloucester | $2,840 | -4.8% | -5.7% | – | $2,165 | $2,446 | $3,521 | 68 | 74 | 58 |
| Groveland* | $2,500 | -9.6% | +6.4% | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | 70 |
| Hamilton* | $1,850 | -39.7% | -53.8% | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | 22 |
| Haverhill | $2,157 | -0.0% | -7.1% | $1,797 | $1,972 | $2,304 | $2,590 | 251 | 221 | 37 |
| Ipswich | $2,855 | +0.7% | -9.7% | – | $1,900 | $2,789 | $3,624 | 22 | 16 | 75 |
| Lawrence | $2,374 | -0.3% | -2.4% | $1,749 | $1,989 | $2,418 | $2,714 | 222 | 216 | 24 |
| Lynn | $2,364 | +0.4% | -3.8% | $1,713 | $2,076 | $2,568 | $3,021 | 455 | 397 | 44 |
| Lynnfield | $3,276 | -5.0% | -1.0% | – | $2,856 | $3,749 | – | 34 | 32 | 13 |
| Malden | $2,703 | -2.0% | +0.7% | $2,046 | $2,361 | $2,930 | $3,203 | 526 | 525 | 37 |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | $4,226 | -1.4% | -15.2% | – | $3,033 | $3,605 | $4,597 | 25 | 20 | 96 |
| Marblehead | $3,062 | -1.3% | -14.9% | – | $2,562 | $2,964 | $4,219 | 48 | 57 | 69 |
| Melrose | $2,900 | -0.8% | -2.5% | $2,359 | $2,518 | $3,098 | $3,772 | 183 | 194 | 27 |
| Merrimac* | $2,569 | -0.9% | -9.9% | – | – | $2,750 | – | 8 | 4 | 84 |
| Methuen | $2,479 | -2.7% | +1.7% | $1,961 | $2,038 | $2,350 | $3,131 | 96 | 83 | 48 |
| Middleton* | $2,644 | -13.0% | +0.2% | – | $1,732 | $3,080 | – | 9 | 6 | 66 |
| Nahant | $2,700 | +0.1% | +8.7% | – | $2,149 | $2,683 | $3,750 | 20 | 12 | 50 |
| Newbury | $2,936 | -3.9% | -8.1% | – | $2,412 | – | $3,358 | 11 | 13 | 67 |
| Newburyport | $3,087 | +3.8% | -2.5% | – | $2,119 | $3,513 | $3,800 | 48 | 45 | 62 |
| North Andover | $2,505 | -5.0% | -13.9% | $2,104 | $2,238 | $2,543 | $3,127 | 89 | 44 | 38 |
| North Reading | $2,871 | 0.0% | +15.4% | – | $2,281 | $2,863 | $3,867 | 36 | 50 | 10 |
| Peabody | $2,842 | +1.8% | -7.4% | $1,876 | $2,498 | $2,904 | $3,367 | 171 | 179 | 25 |
| Reading | $2,813 | +1.5% | -19.0% | $1,789 | – | $2,871 | $3,183 | 26 | 28 | 36 |
| Revere | $2,845 | -0.6% | -4.8% | $2,200 | $2,515 | $3,131 | $3,622 | 579 | 502 | 29 |
| Rockport | $3,110 | -4.0% | -0.2% | – | $2,530 | $3,062 | $3,575 | 29 | 27 | 48 |
| Rowley* | $2,080 | -1.4% | +5.7% | – | – | $2,267 | – | 5 | 4 | 51 |
| Salem | $2,645 | -1.9% | -5.8% | $1,742 | $2,217 | $2,907 | $3,090 | 288 | 283 | 42 |
| Salisbury | $2,381 | -6.1% | -6.0% | – | $2,153 | $2,334 | $2,947 | 21 | 20 | 55 |
| Saugus | $2,857 | +0.6% | -0.3% | $2,311 | $2,479 | $3,000 | $3,384 | 87 | 75 | 27 |
| Stoneham | $3,178 | +0.5% | -3.0% | $2,204 | $2,709 | $3,419 | $3,470 | 66 | 76 | 37 |
| Swampscott | $3,266 | -3.4% | -5.3% | – | $2,620 | $2,978 | $4,788 | 70 | 70 | 45 |
| Topsfield* | – | n/a | n/a | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | – |
| Wakefield | $2,830 | +1.0% | -7.6% | $2,185 | $2,349 | $2,905 | $3,532 | 91 | 84 | 49 |
| Wenham* | $2,700 | 0.0% | n/a | – | – | – | – | 3 | 2 | 48 |
| West Newbury* | – | n/a | n/a | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | – |
| Winthrop | $2,760 | -1.3% | -0.7% | $1,740 | $2,263 | $2,770 | $3,598 | 109 | 101 | 61 |
| North Shore | $2,691 | -1.2% | -5.6% | $2,023 | $2,338 | $2,859 | $3,285 | 5,002 | 4,821 | 36 |
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About the North Shore Rent Index
The index is published monthly by Chelworths Property Management Group. The February 2026 edition covers January 2026 data and compares it with the previous 12 months. Figures are based on active residential rental listings from RentCast across 52 ZIP codes in 45 communities in Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties.
Rents are average asking rents, not achieved rents. North Shore and town figures are listing-weighted averages across each ZIP code, so larger markets carry more weight. Studio figures are zero bedroom listings. Days on market is the average number of days active listings had been on the market, used here as a measure of how long homes take to rent. Towns with fewer than 10 active listings are marked * and excluded from town rankings, as small samples can move sharply month to month. Monthly figures may be revised as the source data updates. RentCast did not report studios separately before March 2025 and its listing coverage was lower from December 2024 to February 2025, so annual comparisons that rely on those months are not shown.
This report is general market information and not an appraisal of any individual property. Data retrieved September 16, 2026. © 2026 Chelworths Property Management Group.