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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take a Look: What Is Zero-Based Budgeting?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everything You Need To Know About Budgeting: How To Create a Budget You Can Live With

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More From GOBankingRates

• 21 Hacks To Reduce Your Healthcare Costs This Year
• The Downsides of Retirement That Nobody Talks About
• Tips To Keep Your Finances in Order Without Sacrificing What You Want
• 40 Money Habits That Can Leave You Broke

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.