Small City Rent: 25 Most Affordable Towns for Renters

For renters, finding the perfect apartment can be a challenge, whether it’s in a big city or a smaller metro area. The cost of rent has skyrocketed in the last few years, and trying to locate an affordable place that still has plenty of opportunity can be downright depressing.

Whether you are looking for a thriving food or music scene, or just don’t want to break the bank to experience the art and culture of your town’s rich history, there are still options for affordable places to live across the United States.

GOBankingRates has done some research to take the guesswork out of it for you, compiling data to find the top small cities with cheap rent across the country. From college towns near state universities to riverside gems steeped in history, there are several not-too-crowded locations with solid economies that come in well below the national average.

Here are 25 of your best options for monthly rent under $1,000, ranked from lowest to highest.

Also see how to lower your rent without moving.

• Population: 3,942
• Median household income: $50,730
• Average cost of rent: $695

• Population: 7,983
• Median household income: $51,417
• Average cost of rent: $720

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• Population: 9,474
• Median household income: $44,277
• Average cost of rent: $725

• Population: 4,205
• Median household income: $43,178
• Average cost of rent: $750

• Population: 8,422
• Median household income: $42,930
• Average cost of rent: $756

• Population: 5,077
• Median household income: $77,305
• Average cost of rent: $795

• Population: 1,529
• Median household income: $57,392
• Average cost of rent: $820

• Population: 5,890
• Median household income: $59,286
• Average cost of rent: $845

• Population: 2,793
• Median household income: $49,640
• Average cost of rent: $858

• Population: 3,377
• Median household income: $59,250
• Average cost of rent: $885

• Population: 5,372
• Median household income: $47,193
• Average cost of rent: $889

• Population: 6,566
• Median household income: $44,910
• Average cost of rent: $889

• Population: 7,875
• Median household income: $57,276
• Average cost of rent: $920

• Population: 7,193
• Median household income: $55,717
• Average cost of rent: $925

• Population: 5,242
• Median household income: $52,627
• Average cost of rent: $929

• Population: 7,179
• Median household income: $65,610
• Average cost of rent: $933

• Population: 6,639
• Median household income: $48,783
• Average cost of rent: $938

• Population: 7,509
• Median household income: $55,580
• Average cost of rent: $938

• Population: 6,937
• Median household income: $46,059
• Average cost of rent: $941

• Population: 7,561
• Median household income: $62,958
• Average cost of rent: $950

• Population: 9,759
• Median household income: $42,821
• Average cost of rent: $950

• Population: 9,281
• Median household income: $67,569
• Average cost of rent: $958

• Population: 7,684
• Median household income: $57,325
• Average cost of rent: $975

• Population: 7,778
• Median household income: $69,844
• Average cost of rent: $975

• Population: 7,001
• Median household income: $32,020
• Average cost of rent: $977

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this gallery.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed small towns across the country to find the most affordable towns for renters. First, GOBankingRates found small towns with populations between 1,000 and 10,000. The average rental cost was found for each small town, as sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index, with the cheapest rental options kept for this study. The cheapest rental cities were sorted to show the most affordable towns for renters. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 21, 2024.