Most Affordable U.S. Metro Areas for Renters (2025)
Ranked by median gross rent as a share of renter household income, the clearest single measure of how stretched renters are. Among the 57 metro areas with at least 1 million people, San Juan, PR ranks first at 26.6%. Across all 393 metros with data, the leader is Bismarck, ND (20.8%). 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 | San Juan, PR | 26.6% | $639 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | 27.4% | $2,889 |
| 3 | Louisville, KY | 28.1% | $1,229 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | 28.3% | $1,414 |
| 5 | Oklahoma City, OK | 28.4% | $1,226 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | 28.5% | $2,480 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | 28.6% | $1,741 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | 28.8% | $1,380 |
| 9 | St. Louis, MO | 29.0% | $1,232 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | 29.0% | $1,150 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | 29.0% | $1,713 |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | 29.1% | $1,163 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | 29.4% | $2,168 |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | 29.6% | $1,279 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | 29.6% | $1,260 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | 29.6% | $1,320 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | 29.7% | $2,121 |
| 18 | Providence, RI | 29.7% | $1,511 |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | 29.9% | $1,504 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | 30.0% | $1,711 |
| 21 | Buffalo, NY | 30.0% | $1,196 |
| 22 | Cleveland, OH | 30.2% | $1,157 |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | 30.3% | $1,696 |
| 24 | Denver, CO | 30.4% | $1,944 |
| 25 | Chicago, IL | 30.6% | $1,620 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | 30.6% | $1,638 |
| 27 | Columbus, OH | 30.6% | $1,468 |
| 28 | Charlotte, NC | 30.7% | $1,641 |
| 29 | Grand Rapids, MI | 31.0% | $1,365 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | 31.1% | $2,221 |
| 31 | San Antonio, TX | 31.1% | $1,396 |
| 32 | Hartford, CT | 31.1% | $1,548 |
| 33 | Baltimore, MD | 31.2% | $1,730 |
| 34 | Dallas, TX | 31.3% | $1,744 |
| 35 | Greenville, SC | 31.3% | $1,322 |
| 36 | Portland, OR | 31.4% | $1,799 |
| 37 | Houston, TX | 31.5% | $1,550 |
| 38 | New York, NY | 31.6% | $1,932 |
| 39 | Tucson, AZ | 31.6% | $1,320 |
| 40 | Birmingham, AL | 31.7% | $1,250 |
| 41 | Atlanta, GA | 31.9% | $1,813 |
| 42 | Detroit, MI | 31.9% | $1,316 |
| 43 | Virginia Beach, VA | 32.5% | $1,643 |
| 44 | Rochester, NY | 32.5% | $1,267 |
| 45 | Richmond, VA | 32.6% | $1,643 |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | 32.7% | $1,836 |
| 47 | Las Vegas, NV | 32.8% | $1,711 |
| 48 | Tampa, FL | 32.9% | $1,875 |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | 32.9% | $1,330 |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | 33.5% | $2,170 |
| 51 | Jacksonville, FL | 33.6% | $1,635 |
| 52 | Sacramento, CA | 34.3% | $1,929 |
| 53 | Orlando, FL | 34.6% | $1,894 |
| 54 | San Diego, CA | 35.1% | $2,416 |
| 55 | Riverside, CA | 35.5% | $2,041 |
| 56 | Fresno, CA | 37.7% | $1,550 |
| 57 | Miami, FL | 38.7% | $2,151 |
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 | Bismarck, ND | 20.8% | $1,163 |
| 2 | Jefferson City, MO | 22.2% | $895 |
| 3 | Eagle Pass, TX | 22.2% | $859 |
| 4 | Fond du Lac, WI | 22.5% | $972 |
| 5 | Green Bay, WI | 22.6% | $1,087 |
| 6 | Sioux City, IA | 23.3% | $1,093 |
| 7 | Grand Island, NE | 23.6% | $1,242 |
| 8 | Sheboygan, WI | 23.9% | $1,143 |
| 9 | Columbus, IN | 23.9% | $1,364 |
| 10 | Lexington Park, MD | 24.6% | $1,895 |
| 11 | Monroe, MI | 24.6% | $1,264 |
| 12 | Janesville, WI | 24.9% | $1,129 |
| 13 | Dalton, GA | 25.0% | $1,084 |
| 14 | Casper, WY | 25.2% | $1,233 |
| 15 | Fargo, ND | 25.4% | $1,132 |
| 16 | Midland, TX | 25.5% | $1,681 |
| 17 | Midland, MI | 25.5% | $1,133 |
| 18 | Glens Falls, NY | 25.7% | $1,233 |
| 19 | Weirton, WV | 25.7% | $856 |
| 20 | Fayetteville, AR | 25.8% | $1,330 |
| 21 | Beaumont, TX | 25.8% | $1,134 |
| 22 | Minot, ND | 25.8% | $1,128 |
| 23 | Kingsport, TN | 26.0% | $862 |
| 24 | Johnstown, PA | 26.0% | $736 |
| 25 | Anniston, AL | 26.0% | $904 |
Notes
Which large U.S. metro ranks first?+
San Juan, PR (26.6%), 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).