Salem, Massachusetts Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the Salem, Massachusetts rental market.

Salem, Massachusetts

Average Apartment Rent

$2,769

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

1.5%

As of May 2026

Compared to a year ago, Salem, Massachusetts apartments have recorded a 1.5% rent increase.

Salem, Massachusetts Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024 Mar 2025 Jul 2025 Nov 2025 Mar 2026
Salem $2,693 $2,703 $2,630 $2,700 $2,684 $2,707 $2,755 $2,705 $2,712
National $1,741 $1,732 $1,736 $1,756 $1,749 $1,755 $1,767 $1,753 $1,750
Salem
National
Jul 2023
$2,693
$1,741
Nov 2023
$2,703
$1,732
Mar 2024
$2,630
$1,736
Jul 2024
$2,700
$1,756
Nov 2024
$2,684
$1,749
Mar 2025
$2,707
$1,755
Jul 2025
$2,755
$1,767
Nov 2025
$2,705
$1,753
Mar 2026
$2,712
$1,750

Salem, Massachusetts Average Apartment Rent

Salem, Massachusetts Apartment rent ranges

Under $1,000
$1,001 - $1,500
$1,501 - $2,000
$2,001 - $2,500
$2,501 - $3,000
Over $3,000

At 42.33%, apartments priced $2,500 - $3,000 represent the bulk of Salem, Massachusetts rentals, while condos priced $1,500 - $2,000 hold the lowest share of the market – 4.28%.

Salem, Massachusetts Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 9,810
Owner occupied housing units 10,077

Renters take up 49% of Salem, Massachusetts real estate, occupying a total of 9,810 units, while homeowners live in 10,077 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

3.9

Renter median household income**

$54,871

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

2.02

Rental vacancy rate**

1.7%

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 771
1 bed 3,247
2 beds 3,757
3 beds 1,774
4 beds 192
5 or more beds 69

There are 3,757 rentals in Salem, Massachusetts with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 38%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (1%), amounting to 69 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in Salem, Massachusetts homes for rent is 3.9.

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 713
25 - 34 years 2,482
35 - 44 years 1,664
45 - 54 years 1,311
55 - 59 years 860
60 - 64 years 911
65 - 74 years 880
75 - 84 years 678
85 years and over 311

Most condos for rent in Salem, Massachusetts are occupied by residents in the 25 - 34 years age group (25%), followed by those in the 35 - 44 years age group (17%). At the same time, people in the 85 years and over age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 3%.

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 4,230
Non-Family Households 5,580

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 2,312
No related children of the householder under 18 7,498

A total of 4,230 apartments for rent in Salem, Massachusetts, or 43% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 24% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 2,312 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in Salem, Massachusetts is 2.02.

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 1,427
High school graduate (including equivalency) 2,125
Some college or associate's degree 2,586
Bachelor's degree or higher 3,672

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 37% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 15% of the homes for rent in Salem, Massachusetts.

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2010 - 2019 223
Built 2000 - 2009 983
Built 1990 - 1999 182
Built 1980 - 1989 957
Built 1970 - 1979 1,204
Built 1960 - 1969 801
Built 1950 - 1959 409
Built 1940 - 1949 500
Built 1939 or earlier 4,523

The highest share of Salem, Massachusetts apartment rentals, namely 46% or 4,523 units, were Built 1939 or earlier, followed by those Built 1970 - 1979 (12%, 1,204 units), and the ones Built 2000 - 2009 (10%, 983 units).

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 696
Moved in 2018 to 2020 2,704
Moved in 2010 to 2017 4,533
Moved in 2000 to 2009 1,280
Moved in 1990 to 1999 354
Moved in 1989 or earlier 243

Median year renter moved into unit 2015

Most Salem, Massachusetts renters (46%) moved in 2010 to 2017, while only 2% of them moved in 1989 or earlier. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their Salem, Massachusetts condos for rent is 2015.

Salem, Massachusetts Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 2,767
1 vehicle available 4,424
2 vehicles available 2,166
3 or more vehicles available 453

When it comes to transportation options, 45% of Salem, Massachusetts renters have 1 vehicle available per household, 28% of them have No vehicle available, and 22% have 2 vehicles available.

Salem, Massachusetts Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 6,965
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 934
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 472
Walked 812
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 565
Worked at home 1,290

Salem, Massachusetts Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 17,031
Moved within same county 1,566
Moved from different county within same state 408
Moved from different state 453

The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Salem, Massachusetts apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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