U.S. Rent Affordability Report 2025: Where Rent Takes the Biggest Bite
Published 11 November 2026 · By Umer, Metro Research · Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2025
Metro Research analyzed the newest Census Bureau data for the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas to see where renters are most stretched, and how rents have moved against incomes since 2021. This continues the kind of metropolitan research this website was first known for. The full dataset for all 393 metro areas is free to download.
Key findings
- Rent rose faster than income nationally. The U.S. median rent went from $1,191 in 2021 to $1,557 in 2025 (+30.7%), while median household income rose +21.6%, from $69,717 to $84,780.
- Rents outpaced incomes in 90 of the 98 largest metro areas with comparable data.
- Miami, FL has the highest rent burden among the 100 largest metros: the typical renter spends 38.7% of income on rent. Fayetteville, AR has the lowest at 25.8%.
- 52% of U.S. renter households pay 30% or more of their income for rent, and 26% pay 50% or more.
- The biggest rent increase since 2021 among large metros was in Augusta, GA (+51.1%).
Where rent takes the biggest share of income
Median gross rent as a percentage of household income for renter households, 2025.
| Rank | Metro area | Rent as % of income | Median rent | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami, FL | 38.7% | $2,151 | $83,261 |
| 2 | Deltona, FL | 38.4% | $1,703 | $75,552 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | 37.7% | $1,550 | $74,752 |
| 4 | Lakeland, FL | 37.7% | $1,660 | $65,722 |
| 5 | Cape Coral, FL | 36.4% | $1,926 | $85,191 |
| 6 | Bakersfield, CA | 36.3% | $1,491 | $74,621 |
| 7 | Oxnard, CA | 35.8% | $2,375 | $113,344 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | 35.5% | $2,041 | $94,933 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | 35.1% | $2,416 | $110,941 |
| 10 | Bridgeport, CT | 35.1% | $2,109 | $120,502 |
Where rent takes the smallest share
| Rank | Metro area | Rent as % of income | Median rent | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | 25.8% | $1,330 | $86,840 |
| 2 | Dayton, OH | 26.3% | $1,149 | $76,029 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | 26.3% | $1,065 | $74,866 |
| 4 | San Juan, PR | 26.6% | $639 | $32,542 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | 27.4% | $2,889 | $166,364 |
| 6 | Louisville, KY | 28.1% | $1,229 | $76,510 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | 28.2% | $1,533 | $91,138 |
| 8 | Harrisburg, PA | 28.2% | $1,349 | $86,837 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | 28.3% | $1,414 | $87,503 |
| 10 | Albany, NY | 28.3% | $1,407 | $91,547 |
Biggest rent increases since 2021
| Rank | Metro area | Rent change 2021–2025 | Income change 2021–2025 | Median rent 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Augusta, GA | +51.1% | +25.9% | $1,383 |
| 2 | Lakeland, FL | +49.5% | +16.6% | $1,660 |
| 3 | Ogden, UT | +48.0% | +26.2% | $1,662 |
| 4 | Palm Bay, FL | +47.0% | +22.5% | $1,759 |
| 5 | Deltona, FL | +46.7% | +27.7% | $1,703 |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | +45.8% | +31.3% | $1,875 |
| 7 | Cape Coral, FL | +45.2% | +28.6% | $1,926 |
| 8 | Knoxville, TN | +43.6% | +25.6% | $1,376 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | +42.3% | +28.1% | $1,632 |
| 10 | Worcester, MA | +42.2% | +19.7% | $1,661 |
Hardest and easiest places to buy
Median home value divided by median household income (U.S.: 4.4×). Higher means ownership is further out of reach.
Least affordable
| Metro area | Home value ÷ income | Median home value | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 9.7× | $1,605,600 | $166,364 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 9.2× | $925,900 | $100,145 |
| San Francisco, CA | 8.5× | $1,152,400 | $136,020 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 8.5× | $949,900 | $112,244 |
| San Diego, CA | 8.4× | $927,700 | $110,941 |
| Oxnard, CA | 7.6× | $860,200 | $113,344 |
| New York, NY | 6.8× | $691,700 | $102,139 |
| Seattle, WA | 6.4× | $771,100 | $120,018 |
| Miami, FL | 6.3× | $525,700 | $83,261 |
| Riverside, CA | 6.2× | $587,200 | $94,933 |
Most affordable
| Metro area | Home value ÷ income | Median home value | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | 2.9× | $231,900 | $79,246 |
| McAllen, TX | 3.0× | $165,800 | $55,872 |
| Toledo, OH | 3.0× | $208,500 | $68,473 |
| Wichita, KS | 3.1× | $229,100 | $74,866 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 3.1× | $240,000 | $78,172 |
| Dayton, OH | 3.1× | $235,800 | $76,029 |
| Akron, OH | 3.2× | $244,800 | $77,114 |
| Rochester, NY | 3.2× | $252,300 | $78,194 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 3.3× | $285,100 | $86,837 |
| Jackson, MS | 3.3× | $205,300 | $61,772 |
Methodology
All figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 1-year estimates for 2025, 2024 and 2021, for Metropolitan Statistical Areas. “Rent as % of income” is the Census measure of median gross rent as a percentage of household income (table B25071). Rent burden uses table B25070. Rankings cover the 100 most populous metros. All values are survey estimates with margins of error. Full methodology.
Use this research
Journalists, researchers and students are welcome to cite and republish these findings with a link to this page (Metro Research, “U.S. Rent Affordability Report 2025”). The data is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
Which U.S. metro area has the least affordable rent in 2025?+
Among the 100 largest metro areas, Miami, FL, where the typical renter spends 38.7% of household income on rent.
Which large U.S. metro has the most affordable rent?+
Fayetteville, AR, where median rent is 25.8% of renter household income.
How much has rent gone up since 2021?+
Nationally, median gross rent rose from $1,191 to $1,557, an increase of +30.7%, while median household income rose +21.6%.