Best & Worst Places to Rent in America (2026)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJul 8, 2025

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jul 8, 2025

Homeownership isn’t for everyone. Roughly 46 million American households have opted to rent rather than buy their homes because of convenience, cost or both. But renting isn’t always a cheaper or better alternative to owning a property. The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing.

Inflation has continued to influence rental prices, and 2024 saw a 5.1% increase in price year-over-year. On the bright side, mortgage rates continue to trend down. Like home prices, however, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city. In some places, renting will prove to be more cost-effective and a better overall value than owning.

To determine where renters can get the most bang for their buck, WalletHub compared more than 180 rental markets based on 21 key measures of rental attractiveness and quality of life. Our data set ranges from the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments to historical price changes, the cost of living and job availability.

“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income. You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent. Our study also considers quality-of-life factors such as a city’s traffic congestion, job market or recreation options to make sure you can get a good living experience, not just inexpensive housing.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places to Rent

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Rental Market & Affordability Rank	Quality of Life Rank
1	Overland Park, KS	66.93	6	7
2	Scottsdale, AZ	65.97	24	1
3	Chandler, AZ	65.75	12	4
4	Gilbert, AZ	65.66	9	6
5	Bismarck, ND	64.88	2	88
6	Sioux Falls, SD	64.81	1	98
7	Huntsville, AL	63.57	10	12
8	Peoria, AZ	63.51	16	3
9	Lewiston, ME	58.90	25	22
10	Nashua, NH	58.85	43	10
11	Lincoln, NE	58.66	11	46
12	Plano, TX	58.55	81	5
13	Fargo, ND	58.08	3	147
14	Mesa, AZ	57.48	53	19
15	Cedar Rapids, IA	56.81	5	123
16	Casper, WY	56.44	19	50
17	Phoenix, AZ	56.11	51	33
18	Manchester, NH	55.99	46	29
19	Portland, ME	55.86	64	18
20	Amarillo, TX	55.73	34	43
21	Glendale, AZ	55.69	67	23
22	Charleston, SC	55.66	55	26
23	Columbia, MD	55.61	22	61
24	Rapid City, SD	55.18	4	142
25	Fremont, CA	55.17	62	35
26	Irvine, CA	54.98	110	14
27	Tempe, AZ	54.88	58	34
28	South Burlington, VT	54.73	17	78
29	Grand Prairie, TX	54.34	103	13
30	Omaha, NE	54.00	15	84
31	Austin, TX	53.89	80	32
32	Brownsville, TX	53.69	40	54
33	Tampa, FL	53.59	127	11
34	Henderson, NV	53.54	56	47
35	Huntington Beach, CA	53.13	128	8
36	Cheyenne, WY	53.00	31	80
37	Reno, NV	52.99	27	83
38	Laredo, TX	52.93	45	64
39	Warwick, RI	52.88	50	58
40	El Paso, TX	52.83	104	28
41	Chesapeake, VA	52.82	54	57
42	Madison, WI	52.75	30	82
43	San Francisco, CA	52.61	39	73
44	Arlington, TX	52.57	83	38
45	Fort Smith, AR	52.56	7	152
46	Boise, ID	51.99	131	21
47	Wichita, KS	51.92	8	145
48	Fort Worth, TX	51.84	76	48
49	Juneau, AK	51.60	26	110
50	Charleston, WV	51.51	18	118
51	Tucson, AZ	51.46	82	45
52	Jersey City, NJ	51.45	14	115
53	Colorado Springs, CO	51.32	37	89
54	Orlando, FL	51.03	138	20
55	Virginia Beach, VA	50.92	85	49
56	West Valley City, UT	50.81	70	68
57	Pittsburgh, PA	50.74	74	66
58	Denver, CO	50.62	29	108
59	Oklahoma City, OK	50.42	42	94
60	Corpus Christi, TX	50.42	52	90
61	Mobile, AL	50.33	33	116
62	Raleigh, NC	49.91	41	102
63	San Diego, CA	49.74	153	16
64	Port St. Lucie, FL	49.52	133	31
65	Irving, TX	49.44	91	67
66	Des Moines, IA	49.36	23	139
67	Honolulu, HI	49.19	144	25
68	Garden Grove, CA	49.04	160	9
69	Atlanta, GA	48.94	95	71
70	Chicago, IL	48.72	60	103
71	St. Petersburg, FL	48.68	146	30
72	Tulsa, OK	48.60	90	77
73	Kansas City, MO	48.50	28	128
74	Las Vegas, NV	48.44	108	72
75	Grand Rapids, MI	48.30	61	111
76	North Las Vegas, NV	48.15	77	92
77	Garland, TX	48.15	143	36
78	Lubbock, TX	48.09	89	81
79	Santa Clarita, CA	47.82	162	15
80	Fontana, CA	47.77	139	37
81	Little Rock, AR	47.63	13	176
82	Aurora, IL	47.60	94	85
83	New York, NY	47.55	112	75
84	Albuquerque, NM	47.54	21	151
85	Newport News, VA	47.45	73	106
86	Montgomery, AL	47.45	38	140
87	San Jose, CA	47.40	129	56
88	Lexington-Fayette, KY	46.95	48	125
89	Greensboro, NC	46.85	35	144
90	Columbia, SC	46.65	72	119
91	Sacramento, CA	46.61	150	40
92	Las Cruces, NM	46.57	32	160
93	San Antonio, TX	46.28	99	95
94	Dallas, TX	46.23	114	87
95	Buffalo, NY	46.18	47	135
96	Durham, NC	46.09	57	131
97	Winston-Salem, NC	46.07	49	136
98	St. Paul, MN	45.83	88	105
99	Seattle, WA	45.81	63	130
100	Oxnard, CA	45.80	117	86
101	Portland, OR	45.74	59	134
102	Cincinnati, OH	45.71	107	99
103	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	45.38	171	17
104	Richmond, VA	45.37	109	101
105	Anchorage, AK	45.34	20	170
106	Providence, RI	45.33	86	120
107	Modesto, CA	45.27	132	79
108	Norfolk, VA	45.25	101	107
109	Bakersfield, CA	45.25	93	112
110	Salt Lake City, UT	45.11	75	132
111	Springfield, MO	45.04	36	168
112	Nampa, ID	45.04	140	63
113	Jacksonville, FL	44.96	148	59
114	Stockton, CA	44.87	98	114
115	Fresno, CA	44.85	116	97
116	Billings, MT	44.72	44	167
117	Dover, DE	44.68	100	121
118	Santa Rosa, CA	44.64	161	42
119	Rochester, NY	44.63	71	146
120	St. Louis, MO	44.41	66	141
121	Aurora, CO	44.38	69	138
122	Spokane, WA	44.26	68	154
123	Wilmington, DE	44.25	130	93
124	Chula Vista, CA	44.24	155	60
125	Anaheim, CA	44.23	152	69
126	Tallahassee, FL	44.22	119	100
127	Pembroke Pines, FL	44.09	181	2
128	Miami, FL	44.06	170	39
129	Long Beach, CA	43.83	164	53
130	Minneapolis, MN	43.70	65	153
131	Columbus, OH	43.65	121	104
132	Santa Ana, CA	43.64	158	65
133	Boston, MA	43.62	115	113
134	Houston, TX	43.44	105	124
135	Charlotte, NC	43.27	97	129
136	Washington, DC	43.07	87	137
137	Glendale, CA	43.05	177	24
138	Cape Coral, FL	43.01	174	27
139	Milwaukee, WI	42.94	79	149
140	Fort Wayne, IN	42.71	124	117
141	Los Angeles, CA	42.56	167	70
142	Fayetteville, NC	42.29	92	155
143	Worcester, MA	42.21	137	109
144	Pearl City, HI	42.20	157	51
145	Yonkers, NY	42.15	168	52
146	Columbus, GA	42.00	120	126
147	New Haven, CT	41.68	145	96
148	Oceanside, CA	41.62	173	41
149	Salem, OR	41.61	126	127
150	Shreveport, LA	41.60	78	171
151	Bridgeport, CT	41.43	165	74
152	Riverside, CA	41.09	163	91
153	Birmingham, AL	41.01	122	133
154	Burlington, VT	40.96	111	157
155	Indianapolis, IN	40.54	84	165
156	Ontario, CA	40.01	179	44
157	Louisville, KY	39.87	96	166
158	Augusta, GA	39.54	106	179
159	Missoula, MT	39.41	135	148
160	Toledo, OH	39.20	134	150
161	Vancouver, WA	38.91	113	173
162	Akron, OH	38.75	125	163
163	Fort Lauderdale, FL	38.73	176	76
164	Chattanooga, TN	38.39	136	159
165	Moreno Valley, CA	38.10	180	62
166	Nashville, TN	38.02	123	164
167	Hialeah, FL	37.88	182	55
168	Oakland, CA	37.48	102	177
169	Philadelphia, PA	37.39	142	156
170	Baltimore, MD	37.15	118	175
171	Knoxville, TN	37.09	154	143
172	Gulfport, MS	36.43	149	158
173	Huntington, WV	35.76	147	169
174	San Bernardino, CA	35.72	178	122
175	Baton Rouge, LA	35.24	141	174
176	Jackson, MS	32.23	172	162
177	Newark, NJ	32.17	169	172
178	New Orleans, LA	31.79	175	161
179	Tacoma, WA	30.96	156	180
180	Cleveland, OH	30.20	166	178
181	Detroit, MI	29.89	151	181
182	Memphis, TN	28.05	159	182

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Affordable Rentals

Most

Most
1. Bismarck, ND
2. Sioux Falls, SD
3. Cheyenne, WY
4. Cedar Rapids, IA
5. Fargo, ND

Least

Least
T-178. Detroit, MI
T-178. New Haven, CT
T-178. Newark, NJ
T-178. Miami, FL
T-178. Hialeah, FL

Rental Vacancy Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Charleston, WV
T-2. Augusta, GA
T-2. Amarillo, TX
4. Little Rock, AR
5. Baton Rouge, LA

Lowest

Lowest
T-177. Santa Rosa, CA
T-177. Cheyenne, WY
179. Hialeah, FL
T-180. Lewiston, ME
T-180. Nashua, NH
182. South Burlington, VT

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Lowest

Lowest
1. San Francisco, CA
2. Glendale, CA
3. Oakland, CA
4. Los Angeles, CA
5. Honolulu, HI

Highest

Highest
T-177. Akron, OH
T-177. Rochester, NY
T-177. Jackson, MS
T-177. Cleveland, OH
T-177. Detroit, MI

Cost of Living

Lowest

Lowest
1. Brownsville, TX
2. Oklahoma City, OK
3. Amarillo, TX
T-4. Akron, OH
T-4. Augusta, GA

Highest

Highest
T-167. Santa Rosa, CA
T-167. New York, NY
T-167. San Jose, CA
T-167. Honolulu, HI
T-167. Pearl City, HI

Safe

Most

Most
1. Huntsville, AL
2. Port St. Lucie, FL
3. Gilbert, AZ
4. Nashua, NH
5. Warwick, RI

Least

Least
175. Tacoma, WA
176. Little Rock, AR
177. St. Louis, MO
T-178. Memphis, TN
T-178. Oakland, CA

In-Depth Look at the Best Places to Rent

Overland Park, KS

Overland Park, KS, is the best place to rent, boasting the highest average home square footage in the country, at 2,809 square feet. It also has the eighth-best rental affordability, with the average person only spending around 17% of their annual income on rent. In addition, only around 18% of households pay more than 50% of their income for housing, the eighth-lowest share in the country.

Overland Park is also a great place for people who have or plan to have kids, as it has a very good school system – 55% of public schools in the city get a rating of at least 7 out of 10 from Greatschools.org. While this may not seem like a high percentage, only 11 cities out of 182 in our study achieve percentages of 50% or higher. Overland Park has the 33rd-lowest crime rate, too.

Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ, is the second-best place to rent, in large part due to the quality of life in the city. Scottsdale ranks as the best city for both the availability of jobs and the driving environment (traffic and infrastructure quality). It also has the fourth-best weather and the sixth-best recreation options.

Scottsdale isn’t the cheapest city to rent in, but it’s also far from the most expensive. It has the 53rd-best rental affordability out of 182 cities, with most people only spending around 21% of their annual income on rent. The city also has one of the largest average home square footages in the country, at 2,331 square feet.

Finally, Arizona has state-level laws addressing bedbug infestations in rental properties, which further protects renters in Scottsdale.

Chandler, AZ

Chandler, AZ, is the third-best place to rent in 2025, partly because most people only spend around 21% of their annual income on rent, and only around 18% of households spend more than 50% of their income on housing costs. Plus, the maximum security deposit that a landlord can charge is only two months’ rent.

In addition, homes in Chandler have a generous average square footage, at 1,909 square feet. There are plenty of new homes to choose from, too, as more than 16% of homes were built between 2010 and 2023. Lastly, Chandler, like its Arizonian counterpart above, also benefits from laws addressing bedbug infestations in rental properties.

Ask the Experts

Finding a suitable rental unit is a similar process to buying a home. Your search may be based purely on cost or also on needs, such as the number of bedrooms or close proximity to work. For guidance, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What tips do you have for a person looking to get the best value in an apartment?
What are the most common mistakes that renters make when searching for a new apartment?
In evaluating the best and worst cities for renters, what are the top five indicators?
Are the fastest growing cities a good place for renters? Why?
How can local policymakers make housing more affordable for renters without upsetting homeowners?

Ask the Experts

Kellen Zale
Associate Professor of Law and Baker Botts LLP Professor in Law - University of Houston Law Center
Read More

Lei Wedge
Associate Professor in the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, University of South Florida, Muma College of Business
Read More

Kristen Haseney
J.D., Assistant Extension Professor; Faculty Advisor, UConn Real Estate Society, Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies, Department of Finance - UConn School of Business
Read More

Job Hammond
Associate Professor; Assistant Department Chair, Real Estate - Austin Community College
Read More

Ezra Rosser
Professor of Law, Associate Dean of the Part-Time and Evening Division – American University, Washington College of Law
Read More

David Reiss
Professor of Law & Research Director, Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship (CUBE) – Brooklyn Law School and Adjunct Professor of Law, Furman Center Research Affiliate – New York University School of Law
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best local rental markets, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Rental Market & Affordability” and “Quality of Life.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for renters. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

Rental Market & Affordability – Total Points: 60

Share of Renters: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Note: This metric specifically measures the share of renter occupied housing units among total occupied housing units.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Sublet Laws-Friendliness*: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Average Home Square Footage: Half Weight (~1.62 Points)
Share of Newer Homes: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Note: “Newer Homes” include housing units built between 2010 and 2023.
Rental Affordability: Triple Weight (~9.73 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Gross Rent / Median Annual Household Income.
Share of Apartment Community Pillar Listings: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Note: A Community Pillar landlord has agreed to relax their standard tenant screening process in order to help applicants with potential rental barriers—such as low incomes, spotty credit scores, unemployment, or lack of housing references—be able to obtain housing.
Historical Rental-Price Changes: Triple Weight (~9.73 Points)
Note: This metric specifically measures the year-over-year change in rent prices (2025 vs. 2024 vs. 2023).
Share of Severely Cost-Burdened Renter Households: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Note: “Severely Cost-Burdened Renter Households,” as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, refers to consumers who spend at least 50 percent of their income on housing.
Average Annual Renters-Insurance Premium*: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Rent-to-Price Ratio: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Cost of Living: Triple Weight (~9.73 Points)
Security-Deposit Limit*: Full Weight (~3.24 Points)
Note: This metric measures the maximum security-deposit amount that landlords are allowed to charge in the state. A lower amount is ideal for renters.

Quality of Life – Total Points: 40

City Satisfaction Index: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Sharecare’s Well-Being “Community” Index Score, and refers to residents liking where they live, feeling safe and having pride in their community.
Job Market: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Jobs” ranking.
Driver-Friendliness: Half Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities to Drive in” ranking.
Recreation-Friendliness: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.
Weather: Half Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
Quality of Public School System: Half Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric is based on GreatSchools.org’s ratings of U.S. public schools.
Safety: Double Weight (~11.43 Points)
Note: This metric measures the violent- and property-crime rates.
Presence of State Bedbug Laws*: Half Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of bedbug laws in the state. Bedbug laws address bedbug infestations in rental properties.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of June 10, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Zillow, Insurance Information Institute, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Flex Zone, TurboTenant, Federal Bureau of Investigation, GreatSchools.org, National Association of REALTORS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index, and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

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Upvotes

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Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer

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* The information about the following cards has been independently collected by WalletHub: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, and American Express® Green Card.