Suffolk County, MA at a glance
Median household income
$95,631$7,969 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Suffolk County, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Suffolk County, MA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $2,359 | $28,308 | $94,360 | 29.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,476 | $29,712 | $99,040 | 31.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,941 | $35,292 | $117,640 | 36.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,526 | $42,312 | $141,040 | 44.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,894 | $46,728 | $155,760 | 48.9% |
What a typical income covers in Suffolk County, MA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $95,631 a year ($7,969 a month before tax).
What $95,631 leaves after Massachusetts taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Massachusetts tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Massachusetts
Living in Suffolk County, MA: common questions
What is the median household income in Suffolk County, MA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Suffolk County, MA is $95,631 per year (approximately $7,969 per month).
What is the average rent in Suffolk County, MA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,359 for a studio, $2,476 for one bedroom, $2,941 for two, $3,526 for three and $3,894 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Suffolk County, MA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.3% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 108.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Suffolk County, MA?
To keep a $2,941 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $117,640 a year, or $9,803 a month. That is 123% of what the typical household in Suffolk County, MA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Suffolk County, MA?
On the local median income of $95,631 ($7,969 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,985 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,391 for everything else and $1,594 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,941 takes 74% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Suffolk County, MA?
Homes in Massachusetts paid 29.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $266. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.