U.S. Metro Areas With the Biggest Rent Increases Since 2021 (2025)
Change in median gross rent between 2021 and 2025, compared with income growth. Among the 56 metro areas with at least 1 million people, Tampa, FL ranks first at +45.8%. Across all 384 metros with data, the leader is Walla Walla, WA (+88.2%). The U.S. figure is +30.7%.
Metro areas with 1 million+ residents
56 metro areas, ranked.
| Rank | Metro area | Rent change since 2021 | Income change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa, FL | +45.8% | +31.3% |
| 2 | Miami, FL | +41.6% | +30.5% |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | +39.5% | +19.4% |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | +38.6% | +21.2% |
| 5 | Providence, RI | +37.5% | +25.0% |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | +36.7% | +25.2% |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | +36.5% | +25.4% |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | +36.2% | +16.9% |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | +35.3% | +19.2% |
| 10 | Greenville, SC | +35.2% | +16.1% |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | +34.7% | +22.7% |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | +34.6% | +26.6% |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | +33.7% | +24.6% |
| 14 | Grand Rapids, MI | +33.4% | +17.7% |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | +33.4% | +31.2% |
| 16 | Virginia Beach, VA | +33.4% | +19.9% |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | +33.2% | +17.4% |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | +32.7% | +20.3% |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | +32.3% | +21.3% |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | +32.2% | +20.2% |
| 21 | Jacksonville, FL | +32.1% | +21.3% |
| 22 | Oklahoma City, OK | +32.0% | +22.0% |
| 23 | Kansas City, MO | +31.5% | +18.4% |
| 24 | Riverside, CA | +31.5% | +23.3% |
| 25 | Omaha, NE | +31.1% | +18.6% |
| 26 | St. Louis, MO | +31.1% | +19.2% |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | +31.0% | +22.6% |
| 28 | Rochester, NY | +30.6% | +17.6% |
| 29 | Salt Lake City, UT | +30.6% | +24.4% |
| 30 | Houston, TX | +30.3% | +22.5% |
| 31 | Philadelphia, PA | +30.2% | +19.6% |
| 32 | Memphis, TN | +29.4% | +26.9% |
| 33 | Boston, MA | +29.3% | +17.9% |
| 34 | Las Vegas, NV | +29.1% | +29.1% |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | +29.0% | +17.4% |
| 36 | Louisville, KY | +28.8% | +19.5% |
| 37 | Tulsa, OK | +28.8% | +20.6% |
| 38 | Birmingham, AL | +28.6% | +24.3% |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | +28.5% | +17.4% |
| 40 | San Diego, CA | +26.6% | +21.9% |
| 41 | Hartford, CT | +25.9% | +19.3% |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | +25.2% | +17.9% |
| 43 | Portland, OR | +24.7% | +18.9% |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | +24.5% | +18.7% |
| 45 | Sacramento, CA | +24.0% | +21.2% |
| 46 | Washington, DC | +23.0% | +19.0% |
| 47 | Seattle, WA | +22.6% | +18.0% |
| 48 | Austin, TX | +22.0% | +18.4% |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | +21.7% | +21.6% |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | +21.5% | +21.4% |
| 51 | Denver, CO | +21.1% | +18.8% |
| 52 | New York, NY | +20.8% | +21.0% |
| 53 | Minneapolis, MN | +20.7% | +17.1% |
| 54 | San Jose, CA | +17.7% | +18.9% |
| 55 | San Juan, PR | +15.8% | +29.9% |
| 56 | San Francisco, CA | +15.0% | +17.3% |
Top 25 of all 384 metro areas
Including smaller metros, which can show more extreme values.
| Rank | Metro area | Rent change since 2021 | Income change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walla Walla, WA | +88.2% | +20.4% |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | +74.0% | +18.0% |
| 3 | Pinehurst, NC | +73.3% | +26.0% |
| 4 | Midland, TX | +65.1% | +25.8% |
| 5 | Springfield, OH | +53.9% | +8.5% |
| 6 | Aguadilla, PR | +53.6% | +52.1% |
| 7 | Sebastian, FL | +53.2% | +36.2% |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | +53.2% | +12.8% |
| 9 | Idaho Falls, ID | +52.3% | +30.0% |
| 10 | Augusta, GA | +51.1% | +25.9% |
| 11 | Jacksonville, NC | +51.1% | +41.5% |
| 12 | Mount Vernon, WA | +51.0% | +26.4% |
| 13 | Port St. Lucie, FL | +50.7% | +33.3% |
| 14 | Burlington, NC | +50.6% | +29.5% |
| 15 | Sheboygan, WI | +50.0% | +30.4% |
| 16 | Lakeland, FL | +49.5% | +16.6% |
| 17 | Staunton, VA | +49.5% | +30.3% |
| 18 | Pocatello, ID | +48.4% | +11.4% |
| 19 | Savannah, GA | +48.4% | +29.9% |
| 20 | Pueblo, CO | +48.4% | +16.8% |
| 21 | Ogden, UT | +48.0% | +26.2% |
| 22 | Helena, MT | +47.3% | +33.6% |
| 23 | Palm Bay, FL | +47.0% | +22.5% |
| 24 | Deltona, FL | +46.7% | +27.7% |
| 25 | Grand Junction, CO | +46.4% | +28.8% |
Notes
Which large U.S. metro ranks first?+
Tampa, FL (+45.8%), among metro areas with 1 million or more residents, based on 2025 Census data.
Where does this data come from?+
The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates, the most recent annual data for metro areas.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates (released September 2026), with 2024 and 2021 for trends. Figures are survey estimates with margins of error; small differences between metros may not be meaningful. Metro areas use the official Metropolitan Statistical Area boundaries. Compiled and analyzed by Metro Research. Methodology.
Free to cite with a link to this page. Download the full data (CSV).