These Are the 50 Best Cities for Renters

Buying a home is more affordable now than it’s been in years. Credit that to record-low mortgage rates and a drop in home prices between the first and second quarters of 2020, following a steady increase over the past eight years, according to Forbes. Still, many Americans aren’t jumping to buy a home. After all, the coronavirus pandemic put millions of people out of work, and others fear a future layoff. That’s why so many Americans remain renters and likely expect to rent for the foreseeable future.

And while no one likes to pay rent, that burden differs depending on where you live, a GOBankingRates study shows. GOBankingRates compiled data on the median rental price for different sizes and types of living spaces across the 150 largest cities in America, then scored each and combined the averages to reveal the cheapest places to rent in the country. Before uprooting to a new city, it’s financially savvy to find out if you can afford the rent.

50. Raleigh, North Carolina

• Population: 457,159
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,500
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,170
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,300

49. Baltimore

• Population: 614,700
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,330
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,340
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,250

48. Pittsburgh

• Population: 303,587
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,400
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,190
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,360

47. Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Population: 450,135
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,550
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,120
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,270

46. San Bernardino, California

• Population: 215,182
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,700
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $980
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,250

45. Anchorage, Alaska

• Population: 296,112
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,800
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $900
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,200

Compare: The Average Rent in Every State

44. Las Vegas

• Population: 626,637
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,600
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,020
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,230

43. Glendale, Arizona

• Population: 245,514
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,500
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,030
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,280

42. Mesa, Arizona

• Population: 491,194
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,600
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,010
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,200

41. Boise, Idaho

• Population: 224,300
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,500
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,100
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,150

40. Richmond, Virginia

• Population: 223,787
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,340
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,100
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,300

39. North Las Vegas, Nevada

• Population: 236,986
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,530
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,020
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,150

38. Arlington, Texas

• Population: 392,462
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,650
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $910
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,150

37. Norfolk, Virginia

• Population: 245,592
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,400
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $1,150
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,000

36. Corpus Christi, Texas

• Population: 324,692
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,550
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $900
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,080

From Alabama to Wyoming: The Cost of Living Across America

35. San Antonio

• Population: 1,486,521
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,300
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $980
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,200

34. Fresno, California

• Population: 522,277
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,450
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $850
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,050

33. Cincinnati

• Population: 300,357
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,400
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $850
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,100

32. Columbus, Ohio

• Population: 867,628
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,280
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $950
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,070

31. Newport News, Virginia

• Population: 180,145
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,280
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $940
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,000

30. Omaha, Nebraska

• Population: 465,112
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,300
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $860
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,050

29. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Population: 225,362
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,250
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $960
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $940

28. Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Population: 559,202
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,350
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $800
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $980

Find Out: Best Places in Every State To Live On a Fixed Income

27. Spokane, Washington

• Population: 214,804
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,320
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $800
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,010

26. Lincoln, Nebraska

• Population: 280,849
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,250
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $860
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,000

25. Laredo, Texas

• Population: 257,575
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,400
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $850
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $850

24. Louisville, Kentucky

• Population: 617,032
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,130
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $930
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,000

23. Kansas City, Missouri

• Population: 481,417
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,000
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $940
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,100

22. Milwaukee

• Population: 596,886
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,000
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $960
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,040

21. Lexington, Kentucky

• Population: 318,734
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,250
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $770
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $940

Options: Best Places To Live On a $50,000 Salary in Every State

20. Buffalo, New York

• Population: 257,518
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,080
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $850
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $980

19. Tucson, Arizona

• Population: 539,216
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,330
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $700
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $910

18. St. Louis

• Population: 311,273
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,000
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $800
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $1,110

17. Des Moines, Iowa

• Population: 215,932
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,050
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $890
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $900

16. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

• Population: 174,151
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,100
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $740
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $930

15. Cleveland

• Population: 387,398
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $870
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $950
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $880

14. Greensboro, North Carolina

• Population: 288,719
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,200
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $700
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $830

13. Memphis, Tennessee

• Population: 653,248
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $900
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $880
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $910

12. Indianapolis

• Population: 857,637
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,000
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $810
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $880

Affordable Living: 35 Cities Where You Can Afford To Live On Less Than $50,000

11. Oklahoma City

• Population: 637,284
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,050
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $750
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $870

10. Lubbock, Texas

• Population: 250,415
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,200
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $580
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $800

9. Little Rock, Arkansas

• Population: 198,135
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $980
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $690
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $830

8. Amarillo, Texas

• Population: 198,773
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $1,170
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $560
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $750

7. Columbus, Georgia

• Population: 196,670
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $850
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $750
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $800

6. Fayetteville, North Carolina

• Population: 209,867
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $950
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $690
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $770

5. Montgomery, Alabama

• Population: 200,156
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $900
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $640
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $800

4. Wichita, Kansas

• Population: 389,563
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $850
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $620
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $740

3. Akron, Ohio

• Population: 198,314
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $800
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $550
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $720

2. Toledo, Ohio

• Population: 278,193
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $800
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $500
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $740

1. Shreveport, Louisiana

• Population: 193,785
  
• Median rent (single-family residence): $800
  
• Median rent (1-bedroom): $560
• Median rent (2-bedroom): $650

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Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: To find the 50 best cities for renters, GOBankingRates looked at the 150 largest cities in the United States, according to the Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey, and used Zillow’s most recently released 2020 home value data to find each city’s (1) median list price for single-family rentals, (2) median list price for one-bedroom rentals, and (3) median list price for two-bedroom rentals. GOBankingRates then scored all cities with available data against each other on factors (1-3) and then ranked them based on their combined score. No. 1 is the overall best city for renters. All data was collected on and up to date as of Aug. 18, 2020.

About the Author

Gabrielle Olya

Gabrielle joined GOBankingRates in 2017 and brings with her a decade of experience in the journalism industry. Before joining the team, she was a staff writer-reporter for People Magazine and People.com. Her work has also appeared on E! Online, Us Weekly, Patch, Sweety High and Discover Los Angeles, and she has been featured on “Good Morning America” as a celebrity news expert. 

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