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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Worcester, MA is $2,140/month as of 2026-03. That is +2.3% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,140/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
+2.3%
Monthly ZORI index values for Worcester, MA.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $2,140 | -0.09% |
| 2026-02 | $2,142 | +0.23% |
| 2026-01 | $2,137 | -0.09% |
| 2025-12 | $2,139 | +0.14% |
| 2025-11 | $2,136 | -0.09% |
| 2025-10 | $2,138 | -0.37% |
| 2025-09 | $2,146 | -0.14% |
| 2025-08 | $2,149 | +0.14% |
| 2025-07 | $2,146 | +0.75% |
| 2025-06 | $2,130 | +0.66% |
| 2025-05 | $2,116 | +0.52% |
| 2025-04 | $2,105 | +0.62% |
| 2025-03 | $2,092 | +1.11% |
| 2025-02 | $2,069 | +0.58% |
| 2025-01 | $2,057 | +0.69% |
| 2024-12 | $2,043 | -0.10% |
| 2024-11 | $2,045 | +0.39% |
| 2024-10 | $2,037 | -0.39% |
| 2024-09 | $2,045 | +0.34% |
| 2024-08 | $2,038 | +0.39% |
| 2024-07 | $2,030 | +1.00% |
| 2024-06 | $2,010 | +0.65% |
| 2024-05 | $1,997 | +1.22% |
| 2024-04 | $1,973 | — |
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.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report