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US Rental Market Overview

A data-driven look at the US rental market: national averages, the most affordable and most expensive states and cities, rent trends, and fair market rents by bedroom count. Powered by HUD, Census, and BLS.

National Rental Snapshot

National Median Rent

$1,365

National Median Income

$83,399

Average Rent Burden

30.3%

Vacancy Rate

8.6%

The national median rent is currently approximately $1,365, with an average rent burden of approximately 30.3%. These figures are based on cities with populations over 5,000, drawn from the most recent Census American Community Survey data. (Source: Census ACS, BLS)

National Rent Trend

Nationally, rents rose approximately 6.5% over the most recent 12-month period, based on the BLS Consumer Price Index for Rent of Primary Residence. (Source: BLS, series CUSR0000SEHA)

Metro-level rent increase rankings are not yet available on this page. Individual city pages show local context where data allows.

Most Expensive States

Ranked by rent burden (share of income spent on rent)

  1. 1

    Florida

    Median rent $1,404, median income $71,550

    33.9%
  2. 2

    Hawaii

    Median rent $1,870, median income $91,218

    32.9%
  3. 3

    California

    Median rent $1,727, median income $92,941

    32.3%
  4. 4

    Louisiana

    Median rent $845, median income $52,383

    32.3%
  5. 5

    Nevada

    Median rent $1,181, median income $76,938

    31.5%
  6. 6

    Colorado

    Median rent $1,277, median income $82,941

    31.0%
  7. 7

    New York

    Median rent $1,388, median income $93,917

    30.9%
  8. 8

    Connecticut

    Median rent $1,576, median income $119,197

    30.7%
  9. 9

    Oregon

    Median rent $1,193, median income $71,831

    30.5%
  10. 10

    New Jersey

    Median rent $1,728, median income $111,731

    30.4%

Most Affordable States

Ranked by lowest rent burden

  1. 1

    North Dakota

    Median rent $723, median income $71,260

    24.4%
  2. 2

    South Dakota

    Median rent $721, median income $62,242

    25.4%
  3. 3

    Wyoming

    Median rent $927, median income $77,262

    27.0%
  4. 4

    Wisconsin

    Median rent $880, median income $69,769

    27.0%
  5. 5

    Kansas

    Median rent $792, median income $61,086

    27.1%
  6. 6

    Nebraska

    Median rent $792, median income $62,576

    27.2%
  7. 7

    Iowa

    Median rent $777, median income $65,363

    27.2%
  8. 8

    Arkansas

    Median rent $732, median income $50,453

    27.5%
  9. 9

    Kentucky

    Median rent $886, median income $64,894

    27.6%
  10. 10

    Oklahoma

    Median rent $777, median income $54,522

    27.7%

Most Expensive Cities

Ranked by rent burden, cities over 100,000 population

  1. 1

    Boulder, CO

    Median rent $1,853, median income $80,243

    43.8%
  2. 2

    El Cajon, CA

    Median rent $1,686, median income $64,128

    39.6%
  3. 3

    Victorville, CA

    Median rent $1,461, median income $65,746

    39.4%
  4. 4

    Miami Gardens, FL

    Median rent $1,583, median income $56,071

    39.4%
  5. 5

    Gainesville, FL

    Median rent $1,151, median income $43,783

    39.1%
  6. 6

    Hollywood, FL

    Median rent $1,463, median income $61,958

    38.6%
  7. 7

    Glendale, CA

    Median rent $2,002, median income $81,219

    38.4%
  8. 8

    Escondido, CA

    Median rent $1,833, median income $77,554

    38.2%
  9. 9

    College Station, TX

    Median rent $1,129, median income $52,397

    38.1%
  10. 10

    Antioch, CA

    Median rent $2,150, median income $90,709

    37.7%

Most Affordable Cities

Lowest rent burden, cities over 100,000 population

  1. 1

    Bellevue, WA

    Median rent $2,422, median income $149,551

    23.3%
  2. 2

    Sunnyvale, CA

    Median rent $2,990, median income $174,506

    23.4%
  3. 3

    The Woodlands, TX

    Median rent $1,723, median income $142,384

    23.9%
  4. 4

    San Francisco, CA

    Median rent $2,316, median income $136,689

    24.1%
  5. 5

    Naperville, IL

    Median rent $1,787, median income $143,754

    24.3%
  6. 6

    Cary, NC

    Median rent $1,538, median income $125,317

    24.4%
  7. 7

    Overland Park, KS

    Median rent $1,378, median income $100,876

    25.0%
  8. 8

    Santa Clara, CA

    Median rent $2,841, median income $165,352

    25.5%
  9. 9

    Arlington, VA

    Median rent $2,227, median income $137,387

    25.6%
  10. 10

    Fargo, ND

    Median rent $900, median income $64,432

    25.6%

Rent by Bedroom Nationally

Average HUD Fair Market Rents across the 1,000 largest US cities. (Source: HUD FMR)

Studio

N/A

1 Bedroom

N/A

2 Bedroom

N/A

3 Bedroom

N/A

4 Bedroom

N/A

Popular City Comparisons

Side-by-side rent data for frequently compared city pairs.

Albuquerque, NM vs El Paso, TXAnchorage, AK vs Seattle, WAAtlanta, GA vs Charlotte, NCAustin, TX vs Nashville, TNBirmingham, AL vs Nashville, TNBoise, ID vs Salt Lake City, UTBoston, MA vs Philadelphia, PACharleston, SC vs Savannah, GA
View all comparisons →

Browse by State

Median rent and rent burden for every US state and Washington D.C.

Alabama$802 · 29.2%Alaska$1,031 · 27.8%Arizona$994 · 29.6%Arkansas$732 · 27.5%California$1,727 · 32.3%Colorado$1,277 · 31.0%Connecticut$1,576 · 30.7%Delaware$1,327 · 29.6%District of Columbia$1,817 · 28.5%Florida$1,404 · 33.9%Georgia$960 · 30.2%Hawaii$1,870 · 32.9%Idaho$941 · 28.1%Illinois$975 · 28.8%Indiana$877 · 28.7%Iowa$777 · 27.2%Kansas$792 · 27.1%Kentucky$886 · 27.6%Louisiana$845 · 32.3%Maine$918 · 28.8%Maryland$1,644 · 30.2%Massachusetts$1,502 · 30.1%Michigan$881 · 29.6%Minnesota$909 · 28.7%Mississippi$774 · 30.2%Missouri$817 · 27.9%Montana$826 · 27.7%Nebraska$792 · 27.2%Nevada$1,181 · 31.5%New Hampshire$1,182 · 28.8%New Jersey$1,728 · 30.4%New Mexico$911 · 29.7%New York$1,388 · 30.9%North Carolina$965 · 29.0%North Dakota$723 · 24.4%Ohio$916 · 27.7%Oklahoma$777 · 27.7%Oregon$1,193 · 30.5%Pennsylvania$996 · 28.8%Rhode Island$1,226 · 29.0%South Carolina$941 · 30.2%South Dakota$721 · 25.4%Tennessee$900 · 29.1%Texas$1,097 · 29.9%Utah$1,210 · 28.4%Vermont$1,060 · 30.3%Virginia$1,365 · 29.1%Washington$1,416 · 29.5%West Virginia$777 · 29.5%Wisconsin$880 · 27.0%Wyoming$927 · 27.0%

Data Sources

**Data Sources:**

  • U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index for Rent of Primary Residence

    • Data is updated periodically. Census ACS data reflects 5-year estimates. HUD Fair Market Rents are updated annually. BLS rent CPI is updated monthly.

    StayRentals is not a real estate agent, landlord, or property manager. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Rent estimates are based on government data and may not reflect current market conditions. Housing laws vary by state and municipality. Consult a local tenant rights organization or attorney for advice specific to your situation.

    Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index.

    Data vintage: HUD FMR FY 2025, Census ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates, BLS CPI updated monthly. Government data may lag 1–2 years behind current market conditions.