These Are the 50 Best Cities for Renters in 2024

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to rent over buying a home. Perhaps it’s the affordability factor, or maybe you want the freedom to move around as you please. Whatever your reason may be, it’s worth finding a place that offers the best options for renters.

To find the best cities for renters, RentCafe analyzed 20 metrics — including apartment quality, economic strength, traffic, air quality and natural amenities — across 150 U.S. cities. The top cities ranked highly for cost of living and housing; local economy; and quality of life.

Based on this analysis, here’s a look at the 50 best cities for renters.

• Population: 181,288
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -9.2%
• Average apartment size: 950 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.10%

• Population: 95,022
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -7.1%
• Average apartment size: 990 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.30%

• Population: 670,587
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +47.4%
• Average apartment size: 743 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 7.10%

• Population: 135,413
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +27.7%
• Average apartment size: 911 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.50%

• Population: 265,196
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +4.6%
• Average apartment size: 863 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.00%

• Population: 54,059
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -12.6%
• Average apartment size: 1,027 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.50%

• Population: 87,894
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -1.9%
• Average apartment size: 983 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 8.70%

• Population: 157,594
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +31.1%
• Average apartment size: 869 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.20%

• Population: 290,531
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -6.1%
• Average apartment size: 937 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.30%

• Population: 153,487
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -9%
• Average apartment size: 999 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.30%

• Population: 55,795
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -4.8%
• Average apartment size: 981 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 6.70%

• Population: 142,414
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -5.5%
• Average apartment size: 1,018 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.50%

• Population: 142,262
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -1.2%
• Average apartment size: 882 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.80%

• Population: 93,695
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -1.7%
• Average apartment size: 983 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.10%

• Population: 201,269
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +8.9%
• Average apartment size: 825 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.60%

• Population: 479,612
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +7.9%
• Average apartment size: 913 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.60%

• Population: 73,329
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -2.3%
• Average apartment size: 916 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.00%

• Population: 227,171
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -4%
• Average apartment size: 864 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 6.10%

• Population: 388,768
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -3.6%
• Average apartment size: 930 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.20%

• Population: 92,475
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -7.9%
• Average apartment size: 924 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.40%

• Population: 198,259
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -6.8%
• Average apartment size: 1,003 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 6.50%

• Population: 684,103
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -0.9%
• Average apartment size: 876 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.60%

• Population: 126,672
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -5.5%
• Average apartment size: 1,032 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.40%

• Population: 235,845
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +37.3%
• Average apartment size: 865 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 2.80%

• Population: 426,877
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -6.4%
• Average apartment size: 776 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.80%

• Population: 950,203
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -6.7%
• Average apartment size: 976 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.80%

• Population: 193,401
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -9.5%
• Average apartment size: 908 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 2.30%

• Population: 710,800
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +10.6%
• Average apartment size: 859 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.70%

• Population: 61,387
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -7.3%
• Average apartment size: 1,042 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.40%

• Population: 234,192
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +4.8%
• Average apartment size: 897 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.80%

• Population: 284,094
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -0.3%
• Average apartment size: 933 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.30%

• Population: 116,933
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -4.2%
• Average apartment size: 955 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.90%

• Population: 307,738
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +0.2%
• Average apartment size: 961 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.20%

• Population: 284,948
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +16.6%
• Average apartment size: 936 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.40%

• Population: 70,838
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -9.1%
• Average apartment size: 962 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.80%

• Population: 215,025
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -8%
• Average apartment size: 942 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.60%

• Population: 120,848
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -0.1%
• Average apartment size: 935 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.70%

• Population: 182,673
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +17.6%
• Average apartment size: 959 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.40%

• Population: 465,517
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -1.9%
• Average apartment size: 953 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.50%

• Population: 875,045
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -3.3%
• Average apartment size: 944 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.70%

• Population: 443,665
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +17.3%
• Average apartment size: 897 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.00%

• Population: 267,267
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +15%
• Average apartment size: 980 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.50%

• Population: 58,919
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +4.3%
• Average apartment size: 952 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.70%

• Population: 958,202
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -0.9%
• Average apartment size: 864 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 4.40%

• Population: 120,465
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -8.3%
• Average apartment size: 908 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.80%

• Population: 240,537
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +13.4%
• Average apartment size: 951 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.50%

• Population: 196,160
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -2.7%
• Average apartment size: 948 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.70%

• Population: 55,508
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): +4.3%
• Average apartment size: 961 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 2.90%

• Population: 494,838
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -1.4%
• Average apartment size: 972 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 5.80%

• Population: 149,960
• Cost of living (compared to U.S. average): -1.6%
• Average apartment size: 970 square feet
• Unemployment rate: 3.70%

Data is sourced from RentCafe and is accurate as of June 28, 2024.