Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Worcester, MA
The average asking rent in Worcester, MA is $2,182/month as of 2026-05. That is +2.1% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,182/mo
as of 2026-05
Year-over-Year Change
+2.1%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Worcester, MA.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05 | $2,182 | +0.32% |
| 2026-04 | $2,175 | +0.42% |
| 2026-03 | $2,166 | -0.18% |
| 2026-02 | $2,170 | +0.23% |
| 2026-01 | $2,165 | -0.09% |
| 2025-12 | $2,167 | +0.18% |
| 2025-11 | $2,163 | -0.05% |
| 2025-10 | $2,164 | -0.28% |
| 2025-09 | $2,170 | -0.14% |
| 2025-08 | $2,173 | +0.23% |
| 2025-07 | $2,168 | +0.70% |
| 2025-06 | $2,153 | +0.75% |
| 2025-05 | $2,137 | +0.38% |
| 2025-04 | $2,129 | +0.61% |
| 2025-03 | $2,116 | +1.00% |
| 2025-02 | $2,095 | +0.62% |
| 2025-01 | $2,082 | +0.68% |
| 2024-12 | $2,068 | -0.10% |
| 2024-11 | $2,070 | +0.29% |
| 2024-10 | $2,064 | -0.29% |
| 2024-09 | $2,070 | +0.24% |
| 2024-08 | $2,065 | +0.44% |
| 2024-07 | $2,056 | +0.88% |
| 2024-06 | $2,038 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Compare All Cities
Open Full Rent Tracker →Other Cities
Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices