With rental prices having experienced a 5.1% year-over-year increase last year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Best & Worst Places to Rent in America, as well as expert commentary. The study aims to help prospective renters get the most bang for their buck by comparing more than 180 U.S. cities based on 21 key indicators of rental attractiveness and quality of life, ranging from historical rental-price changes to the cost of living to job availability.
The top city for renters is Overland Park, Kansas, followed by Scottsdale, Arizona; Chandler, Arizona; Gilbert, Arizona; Bismarck, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Huntsville, Alabama; Peoria, Arizona; Lewiston, Maine; and Nashua, New Hampshire. On the other end of the spectrum, the worst cities for renters include Memphis, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Tacoma, Washington; New Orleans, Louisiana; Newark, New Jersey; Jackson, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; San Bernardino, California; and Huntington, West Virginia.
The study also highlights significant disparities among cities. Bismarck, North Dakota, has the highest rental affordability, with the lowest median annual gross rent divided by median annual household income at 15.34 percent. This is 2.3 times lower than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the lowest affordability at 35.22 percent. Charleston, West Virginia, boasts the highest rental vacancy rate, which is 10.4 times higher than in South Burlington, Vermont, the city with the lowest vacancy rate. Newark, New Jersey, has the highest share of renter-occupied housing units, which is 4.5 times higher than in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the city with the lowest share.
Cost of living also varies widely. Brownsville, Texas, has the lowest cost-of-living index, which is 2.4 times lower than in Honolulu and Pearl City, Hawaii, the cities with the highest index. Safety is another critical factor: Warwick, Rhode Island, has the fewest violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is 51.3 times fewer than in Oakland, California, the city with the most violent crimes.
These findings come at a time when rental prices continue to rise, making it crucial for renters to consider not just affordability but also quality of life factors such as job availability, safety, and cost of living. The WalletHub study provides a comprehensive tool for renters to evaluate potential cities and make informed decisions.
