The Average Rent in Every State

Owning a home has long been an essential part of the American dream, combining the basic need for housing with the chance to invest in a piece of property. But, for an increasing portion of Americans, homeownership only seems to be getting further and further out of reach. For those people, renting isn't a preference -- it's their only choice.

However, renting isn't necessarily a financial setback, though it's sometimes portrayed that way. Investing the money that you might have otherwise spent on a down payment can result in a brighter financial future than paying a mortgage with an interest rate that's too high. There are also many different ways that a growing family can benefit from the flexibility of renting. After all, what defines a home is the people living in it, not who holds the deed.

In a new study, GOBankingRates used Zillow's rent index to compile the average monthly rent for a single-family residence in every state. Median home list prices were also provided as supplemental data. The final ranking should allow you to understand which parts of the country are the least friendly to renters, and which states can help you save money and avoid squeezing your budget.

Last updated: April 17, 2020

1. West Virginia

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $169,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $879

2. Oklahoma

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $192,701
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $953

3. Arkansas

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $179,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $964

4. Alabama

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $219,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,026

5. Kansas

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $194,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,049

6. Iowa

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $179,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,057

7. Missouri

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $190,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,062

8. Mississippi

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $188,500
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,080

Find Out: Great Places To Retire Where Rent Is Under $1,000 a Month

9. Kentucky

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $199,500
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,097

10. Indiana

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $195,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,110

11. Wyoming

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $259,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,130

12. Michigan

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $186,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,135

13. Ohio

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $180,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,136

14. Wisconsin

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $224,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,158

15. Tennessee

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $259,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,166

16. South Dakota

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $227,500
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,180

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17. New Mexico

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $239,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,209

18. South Carolina

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $254,990
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,234

19. Louisiana

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $219,280
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,245

20. North Carolina

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $275,500
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,246

21. Nebraska

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $214,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,258

22. Pennsylvania

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $219,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,258

23. Montana

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $325,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,269

24. Idaho

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $332,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,293

25. Georgia

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $264,375
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,310

26. North Dakota

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $229,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,338

Check Out: The Salary You Need To Afford Rent in Every State

27. Maine

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $255,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,439

28. Arizona

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $300,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,440

29. Delaware

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $299,990
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,447

30. Texas

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $283,146
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,486

31. Illinois

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $240,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,491

32. Virginia

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $320,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,498

33. Minnesota

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $279,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,500

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34. Utah

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $374,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,568

35. Nevada

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $337,500
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,623

36. Florida

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $309,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,658

37. Vermont

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $278,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,667

38. Oregon

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $395,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,738

39. Alaska

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $305,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,754

40. Connecticut

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $349,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,813

41. New Hampshire

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $319,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,821

42. Maryland

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $341,990
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,828

43. Washington

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $429,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,893

44. Colorado

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $449,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $1,976

45. New Jersey

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $349,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $2,063

46. New York

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $348,569
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $2,067

47. Rhode Island

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $329,900
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $2,200

48. Massachusetts

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $479,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $2,257

49. Hawaii

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $489,500
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $2,500

50. California

• Median list price for a single-family residence: $560,000
• Average monthly rent for a single-family residence: $2,598

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Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the average rent in every state by sourcing Zillow's rent index for single-family residences, which tracks median monthly rents from January to June 2019, and calculating the average for this six-month period. Zillow rent index data for single-family residences was not available for Nevada and Rhode Island, so rent list price was used instead. The median home listing price from Zillow's July 2019 index was included as supplemental data. All data used to conduct this study was compiled and verified on Sept. 16, 2019.  

Photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the images may not reflect a single-family residence at the price listed in this article.

About the Author

Joel Anderson

Joel Anderson is a business and finance writer with over a decade of experience writing about the wide world of finance. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in writing about the financial markets, stocks, macroeconomic concepts and focuses on helping make complex financial concepts digestible for the retail investor.

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