Street View from Google. The building may look different today.
164 Essex Street Melrose, MA 02176
20 income-restricted apartments in Melrose, from studios to 3 bedrooms, for households earning up to 80% of the area's median income.
- Type of listing
- Rental
- Rent
- $2,285–$3,307 a month
- Deadline
- Dec 21, 2026
- How you get in
- Lottery
- How to apply
- Online ↗
- Listing page
- affordablelistings.com ↗
Cost and eligibility
| Size | Rent | Yearly income To rent the home, your whole household's yearly income before taxes must be at least the amount on its row. The most you can earn depends on your household size, and the official listing shows it. Every home here is for incomes up to 80% of the area's median income: half of households there earn more, half less. | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,285 | At least $68,550 | 2 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,412 | At least $72,360 | 14 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,883 | At least $86,490 | 2 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,307 | At least $99,210 | 2 |
Section 8 voucher limits
The voucher limit is not what the voucher pays. It is the most rent and utilities together can cost while you still pay only about 30% of your income.
If rent and utilities together cost the voucher limit or less, you pay about 30% of your income. Your 30% pays for your utilities and part of the rent. The housing office pays your landlord the part of the rent you don't pay.
- You earn $2,000 a month, so your 30% is $600. Rent and utilities cost $1,300, under the $1,500 voucher limit. You pay $600, and the housing office pays your landlord the other $700.
If rent and utilities together cost more than the voucher limit, you pay about 30% of your income plus every dollar above the voucher limit.
- You earn $2,000 a month, so your 30% is $600. Rent and utilities cost $1,600, which is $100 over the $1,500 voucher limit. You pay $600 plus $100, which is $700, and the housing office pays your landlord the other $900.
| Size | Voucher limit |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,440 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,518 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,008 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,584 |
How to apply
Next steps
- After you apply, you are told the lottery date and time.
- You get your lottery number within a week after the drawing.
- If you are selected from the sorted list, you view the units in the building.
- If you like the unit, you send full financial information to confirm you qualify.
Contact
Details
Run by
Good to know
Last checked
Other open listings in Melrose
- The WashingtonsIncome-restricted rental · Waitlist · $1,875–$2,066 a month · Apply by Oct 30
- 10 Corey StreetIncome-restricted rental · First come · Open now
- 99 Essex StreetIncome-restricted rental · Waitlist · Open now
- Five24Income-restricted rental · Waitlist · Open now
See all 5 open listings in MelroseSee all open housing lotteriesSee buildings in Melrose where you can ask to join a waitlist