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The rental market has a transparency problem, and it is costing everyone. Walk through any major American city and you will find apartments changing hands through text messages, word of mouth, and broker networks that operate like private clubs. Check out our guest post on Jonathon Miller's Housing Notes!

Charlestown stands apart from most Boston neighborhoods. With its historic charm, waterfront setting, and limited housing stock, it has always operated as a tightly constrained rental market. In 2026, that dynamic is even more pronounced. While inventory is rising across Boston, Charlestown remains one of the tightest and most supply-restricted markets in the city.

The North End remains one of Boston's most unique and desirable neighborhoods, defined by its historic character, waterfront proximity, and vibrant dining scene. In 2026, while inventory is rising across the city, the North End continues to show a distinct balance: more availability, but still tight vacancy and steady rent growth.

Beacon Hill remains one of Boston’s most historic and sought-after neighborhoods, known for its historic charm, cobblestone streets, gaslit lantern street lights, and proximity to downtown. In 2026, the data shows a market that is beginning to shift towards renters with more inventory, rising vacancy, and steady but modest rent growth.

Cambridge has long been one of the most competitive rental markets in Greater Boston, fueled by off campus housing demand, a booming tech sector, and proximity to downtown. In 2026, while inventory is rising across the region, Cambridge continues to show signs of resilience, maintaining tighter conditions and steady rent growth compared to the broader Boston market.

Charlestown offers a unique blend of historic charm, waterfront views, and a quieter residential feel just minutes from downtown Boston. But when it comes to rental pricing, Charlestown stands out for a different reason. It’s one of the few central neighborhoods that skews below the Boston average overall, while still commanding strong pricing in certain unit types. In this article, we’ll break down how Charlestown ranks among all Boston neighborhoods for each unit size. We’ll also compare Charlestown rents to other nearby and similarly priced areas.

The North End is one of Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, known for its historic charm, waterfront access, and vibrant restaurant scene. But beyond its appeal as a destination, the North End also stands out as a consistently above-average rental market. Given its cultural offerings and close proximity to downtown, it’s not surprising that rental demand is strong here and the North End consistently ranks among the most expensive neighborhoods to rent an apartment in Boston. In this article, we’ll break down how the North End ranks in terms of average rent price for all unit sizes. We’ll also compare it to other Downtown areas and neighborhoods in Boston with similar prices.

Beacon Hill is one of Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, known for its historic charm, brick sidewalks, and proximity to downtown. It should come as no surprise that apartment demand is strong in this neighborhood. Still, comparing average rent prices to other submarkets close to downtown, Beacon Hill is surprisingly affordable for many unit sizes. In this post, we’ll break down how rent prices in Beacon Hill rank for each unit size. We’ll also compare those prices to other downtown neighborhoods and markets with similar pricing. Let’s dive into the data.

Cambridge has long been one of the most competitive rental markets in Greater Boston. With its proximity to Harvard, MIT, Kendall Square, and downtown Boston, it consistently ranks among the most expensive places to rent, not just in the suburbs, but across the entire region. In this post, we will take a closer look at Cambridge rent prices for each unit size as they compare to other top suburbs and Boston neighborhoods. We’ll see how Cambridge ranks among all Boston suburbs for each size category, as well as comparing it to similar neighborhoods in Boston.

If you’ve been trying to find an apartment in Boston over the past few years, you probably know the drill: limited options, high prices, and places renting before you even had a chance to schedule a showing.But something unusual is happening in 2026. According to new data, Boston’s apartment availability has climbed past an 8% real-time availability rate (RTAR), a noticeable jump during a time of year when inventory usually tightens, not expands. This marks the first time availability has surpassed 8% since the pandemic, and it’s even higher than the peak market cycles prior to COVID. So what’s going on? More importantly, what does it mean if you’re trying to rent right now?

Boston has long been one of the most stable and competitive rental markets in the country. Low vacancy, consistent rent growth, and strong demand, driven largely by universities, healthcare, and tech, have made it a go-to market for property investors. But new data suggests something is changing. According to Boston Pads, the city’s Real-Time Availability Rate (RTAR) has climbed past 8%, a level rarely seen during what is typically one of the strongest leasing periods of the year. For investors, this raises an important question: Is Boston entering a new phase, and what does that mean for returns?

South Boston has evolved into one of Boston’s most competitive and desirable rental markets in all of Boston. Historically known as a tough blue-collar neighborhood, South Boston has transformed itself into one of the most highly sought-after and competitive rental markets. With its proximity to downtown, waterfront access, and continued development, the neighborhood has solidified itself as a top destination for renters. In 2026, while Boston's apartment availability has ballooned to over 8%, South Boston continues to stand out as a tightly constrained and resilient submarket.

Brookline has long stood apart from Boston’s core neighborhoods, offering a unique blend of suburban charm and urban accessibility. In 2026, that positioning is becoming even more apparent. While inventory is rising across Greater Boston, Brookline is experiencing one of the fastest increases in availability, yet continues to maintain strong pricing and steady demand.

The South End has long been one of Boston’s most desirable, and expensive, rental markets. In Boston, the South End is known for its historic brownstones, exceptional dining scene, and unmatched proximity to local institutions. In 2026, the neighborhood is experiencing a noticeable shift, with inventory rising sharply and vacancy increasing alongside it. However, despite these changes, the South End remains one of the most competitive and resilient rental markets in the city.

Back Bay has long been one of Boston’s most prestigious and competitive rental markets, known for upscale luxury, historic brownstones, and unmatched central location. In 2026, while Boston’s overall rental landscape is seeing a notable rise in inventory, Back Bay continues to operate under tighter conditions, reinforcing its position as one of the city’s most resilient submarkets.

South Boston, known locally as Southie, has transformed into one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Boston. What was once a rough blue-collar part of town is now one of the most highly south-after micromarkets in Boston. With its mix of waterfront access, new development, and proximity to downtown, it has become a top pick for renters and one of the fastest median days on market in the city. But how do rent prices in South Boston compare to the rest of the city?