According to Forbes.com, the Boston metropolitan area is the fourth most-expensive rental market in the United States, following New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

“Class-A” rental space (not defined, but presumably, downtown Boston) costs an average of $25.08 per square foot of space, (on an annual basis), and “Class-B” rental space costs an average of $17.49 per square foot of space, (on an annual basis).

In the Boston metropolitan area, about 35% of housing is renter-occupied, according to 2004 data from the U.S. Census. [The census data may cover a slightly different geographical area than the Forbes.com apartment price information does.]

Apartment price data includes the Cambridge and Quincy areas, as well as parts of New Hampshire.

Source: Forbes.com