Least Affordable U.S. Metro Areas for Renters (2025)
Where the typical renter hands over the largest share of income in rent. Among the 57 metro areas with at least 1 million people, Miami, FL ranks first at 38.7%. Across all 393 metros with data, the leader is Salisbury, MD (41.6%). The U.S. figure is 30.9%.
Metro areas with 1 million+ residents
57 metro areas, ranked.
| Rank | Metro area | Rent as % of income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami, FL | 38.7% | $2,151 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | 37.7% | $1,550 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | 35.5% | $2,041 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | 35.1% | $2,416 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | 34.6% | $1,894 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | 34.3% | $1,929 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | 33.6% | $1,635 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | 33.5% | $2,170 |
| 9 | Tampa, FL | 32.9% | $1,875 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | 32.9% | $1,330 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | 32.8% | $1,711 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | 32.7% | $1,836 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | 32.6% | $1,643 |
| 14 | Virginia Beach, VA | 32.5% | $1,643 |
| 15 | Rochester, NY | 32.5% | $1,267 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | 31.9% | $1,813 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | 31.9% | $1,316 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | 31.7% | $1,250 |
| 19 | New York, NY | 31.6% | $1,932 |
| 20 | Tucson, AZ | 31.6% | $1,320 |
| 21 | Houston, TX | 31.5% | $1,550 |
| 22 | Portland, OR | 31.4% | $1,799 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | 31.3% | $1,744 |
| 24 | Greenville, SC | 31.3% | $1,322 |
| 25 | Baltimore, MD | 31.2% | $1,730 |
| 26 | Boston, MA | 31.1% | $2,221 |
| 27 | San Antonio, TX | 31.1% | $1,396 |
| 28 | Hartford, CT | 31.1% | $1,548 |
| 29 | Grand Rapids, MI | 31.0% | $1,365 |
| 30 | Charlotte, NC | 30.7% | $1,641 |
| 31 | Chicago, IL | 30.6% | $1,620 |
| 32 | Philadelphia, PA | 30.6% | $1,638 |
| 33 | Columbus, OH | 30.6% | $1,468 |
| 34 | Denver, CO | 30.4% | $1,944 |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | 30.3% | $1,696 |
| 36 | Cleveland, OH | 30.2% | $1,157 |
| 37 | Salt Lake City, UT | 30.0% | $1,711 |
| 38 | Buffalo, NY | 30.0% | $1,196 |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | 29.9% | $1,504 |
| 40 | Seattle, WA | 29.7% | $2,121 |
| 41 | Providence, RI | 29.7% | $1,511 |
| 42 | Cincinnati, OH | 29.6% | $1,279 |
| 43 | Milwaukee, WI | 29.6% | $1,260 |
| 44 | Omaha, NE | 29.6% | $1,320 |
| 45 | Washington, DC | 29.4% | $2,168 |
| 46 | Tulsa, OK | 29.1% | $1,163 |
| 47 | St. Louis, MO | 29.0% | $1,232 |
| 48 | Pittsburgh, PA | 29.0% | $1,150 |
| 49 | Raleigh, NC | 29.0% | $1,713 |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | 28.8% | $1,380 |
| 51 | Austin, TX | 28.6% | $1,741 |
| 52 | San Francisco, CA | 28.5% | $2,480 |
| 53 | Oklahoma City, OK | 28.4% | $1,226 |
| 54 | Kansas City, MO | 28.3% | $1,414 |
| 55 | Louisville, KY | 28.1% | $1,229 |
| 56 | San Jose, CA | 27.4% | $2,889 |
| 57 | San Juan, PR | 26.6% | $639 |
Top 25 of all 393 metro areas
Including smaller metros, which can show more extreme values.
| Rank | Metro area | Rent as % of income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salisbury, MD | 41.6% | $1,502 |
| 2 | Florence, SC | 40.5% | $1,024 |
| 3 | Hilton Head Island, SC | 39.9% | $1,875 |
| 4 | Gainesville, FL | 39.6% | $1,463 |
| 5 | Hattiesburg, MS | 39.4% | $1,032 |
| 6 | Bloomington, IN | 39.2% | $1,269 |
| 7 | Vineland, NJ | 38.8% | $1,417 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | 38.7% | $2,151 |
| 9 | Ithaca, NY | 38.7% | $1,646 |
| 10 | Hammond, LA | 38.6% | $1,051 |
| 11 | Deltona, FL | 38.4% | $1,703 |
| 12 | Owensboro, KY | 38.3% | $1,005 |
| 13 | Auburn, AL | 38.1% | $1,170 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | 37.7% | $1,550 |
| 15 | Lakeland, FL | 37.7% | $1,660 |
| 16 | Athens, GA | 37.0% | $1,476 |
| 17 | Yuba City, CA | 37.0% | $1,563 |
| 18 | Paducah, KY | 37.0% | $888 |
| 19 | Santa Maria, CA | 36.9% | $2,283 |
| 20 | Tallahassee, FL | 36.8% | $1,289 |
| 21 | Vallejo, CA | 36.5% | $2,155 |
| 22 | Cape Coral, FL | 36.4% | $1,926 |
| 23 | Medford, OR | 36.4% | $1,500 |
| 24 | Bakersfield, CA | 36.3% | $1,491 |
| 25 | Bellingham, WA | 36.2% | $1,610 |
Notes
Which large U.S. metro ranks first?+
Miami, FL (38.7%), 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).