10 Best Rental Markets for 2025 College Graduates

Congratulations to the class of 2025! Recent post grads have bright futures ahead of them, especially if they relocate to the 10 cities identified by Realtor.com as having the best rental markets. 

While none of these cities include popular metros like New York or Los Angeles, this is actually a good thing (and not surprising to hear either). Both cities have wildly competitive, expensive rental markets and a high cost of living that outpaces the earnings of new graduates. The 10 best rental markets, according to Realtor.com, are largely found in the South and Midwest. These markets offer new grads affordable rent, as well as plenty of job opportunities and reasonable commutes.

See which 10 rental markets are worth exploring if you’re a recent college graduate.

• Median rent: $1.504
• Rent to income ratio: 18.9%
• Rental vacancy rate: 8.2%
• College grad friendly occupations: 29.4%
• Average commute time: 25 minutes

• Median rent: $1,524
• Rent to income ratio: 20%
• Rental vacancy rate: 9%
• College grad friendly occupations: 30.4%
• Average commute time: 25 minutes

• Median rent: $1,351
• Rent to income ratio: 20.6%
• Rental vacancy rate: 9.2%
• College grad friendly occupations: 25.5%
• Average commute time: 22 minutes

• Median rent: $1,528
• Rent to income ratio: 19.7%
• Rental vacancy rate: 5.2%
• College grad friendly occupations: 27.3%
• Average commute time: 24 minutes

• Median rent: $1,335
• Rent to income ratio: 20.8%
• Rental vacancy rate: 8%
• College grad friendly occupations: 25.1%
• Average commute time: 25 minutes

• Median rent: $1,502
• Rent to income ratio: 23.2%
• Rental vacancy rate: 8.2%
• College grad friendly occupations: 25.3%
• Average commute time: 23 minutes

• Median rent: $1,461
• Rent to income ratio: 22.3%
• Rental vacancy rate: 8.7%
• College grad friendly occupations: 24.3%
• Average commute time: 25 minutes

• Median rent: $1,530
• Rent to income ratio: 22.5%
• Rental vacancy rate: 7.9%
• College grad friendly occupations: 23%
• Average commute time: 23 minutes

• Median rent: $1,472
• Rent to income ratio: 22.4%
• Rental vacancy rate: 8.9%
• College grad friendly occupations: 24.4%
• Average commute time: 26 minutes

• Median rent: $1,604
• Rent to income ratio: 24.1%
• Rental vacancy rate: 9.3%
• College grad friendly occupations: 24.7%
• Average commute time: 29 minutes