Least and Most Affordable Cities for Renters

Approximately one third of American households are occupied by renters. A critical issue for renters is the ability to afford housing. With real estate markets varying widely around the country, there is a wide range when it comes to affordability for renters. AdvisorSmith examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the latest rental price data to find the most and least affordable cities for renters nationwide among 500 U.S. cities.

AdvisorSmith’s study calculated rental affordability by examining the ratio of weighted median rent in each city compared with the median household income in each city. This study considers the earning potential of households in each city. It highlights cities with high earning residents and low rental costs, while also highlighting cities where residents must spend a high proportion of their household income on rent.

Among the 500 cities studied, the average rent-to-income ratio was 25.7%. This ratio ranged from as low as 13.1% in Decatur, Georgia, to as high as 49.9% of income in Miami, Florida. Our study also found the most and least affordable cities based on city size.

Least Affordable Cities for Renters by City Size

Our rental analysis segmented cities based on their city size. Large cities were those with over 300,000 residents. Midsize cities had between 100,000 and 300,000 residents, while small cities had under 100,000 residents.

Least Affordable Large Cities for Renters

Some of the nation’s largest cities were among the least affordable for renters. These included Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston in the top 10. Numerous cities in California were among the most unaffordable, with 6 of the top 10 least affordable being in California. Among large cities, the average rent-to-income ratio was 27.1%.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Miami, FL	$39,049	124,366	$1,624	49.9%
2	Santa Ana, CA	$66,145	41,309	$2,082	37.8%
3	Los Angeles, CA	$62,142	874,365	$1,883	36.4%
4	New York, NY	$63,998	2,132,397	$1,938	36.3%
5	Anaheim, CA	$71,763	56,042	$2,161	36.1%
6	Boston, MA	$71,115	175,116	$2,025	34.2%
7	Long Beach, CA	$63,017	100,354	$1,757	33.4%
8	Fresno, CA	$50,432	89,850	$1,406	33.4%
9	Riverside, CA	$69,045	41,766	$1,877	32.6%
10	Tampa, FL	$53,833	78,335	$1,443	32.2%
11	Honolulu, HI	$71,465	71,283	$1,892	31.8%
12	Detroit, MI	$30,894	139,136	$806	31.3%
13	San Diego, CA	$79,673	269,936	$2,044	30.8%
14	Mesa, AZ	$58,181	70,436	$1,456	30.0%
15	Oakland, CA	$73,692	96,242	$1,836	29.9%
16	Memphis, TN	$41,228	134,371	$1,024	29.8%
17	Tucson, AZ	$43,425	104,975	$1,069	29.6%
18	Philadelphia, PA	$45,927	282,465	$1,124	29.4%
19	New Orleans, LA	$41,604	79,579	$1,017	29.3%
20	Aurora, CO	$65,100	52,156	$1,583	29.2%
21	Sacramento, CA	$62,335	95,508	$1,496	28.8%
22	Baltimore, MD	$50,379	125,529	$1,170	27.9%
23	Chicago, IL	$58,247	586,828	$1,334	27.5%
24	Cleveland, OH	$30,907	99,649	$703	27.3%
25	Jacksonville, FL	$54,701	149,000	$1,242	27.2%

Least Affordable Midsize Cities for Renters

Among midsize cities, California also took six of the top 10 places. Among midsize cities, the average rent-to-income ratio was 26.2%.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Allentown, PA	$41,167	24,990	$1,477	43.0%
2	Salinas, CA	$61,527	22,516	$2,050	40.0%
3	Moreno Valley, CA	$66,134	19,510	$2,198	39.9%
4	Ontario, CA	$65,046	23,507	$2,154	39.7%
5	Vista, CA	$72,125	15,337	$2,285	38.0%
6	Escondido, CA	$64,038	22,990	$2,010	37.7%
7	Oceanside, CA	$72,697	26,105	$2,263	37.4%
8	New Haven, CT	$42,222	35,420	$1,299	36.9%
9	Gainesville, FL	$37,264	30,010	$1,117	36.0%
10	Worcester, MA	$48,139	42,042	$1,440	35.9%
11	Clearwater, FL	$48,691	19,757	$1,446	35.6%
12	Pompano Beach, FL	$49,518	19,458	$1,450	35.1%
13	Port St. Lucie, FL	$60,587	15,021	$1,765	34.9%
14	West Palm Beach, FL	$54,334	21,236	$1,569	34.6%
15	Newark, NJ	$35,199	77,942	$1,009	34.4%
16	West Covina, CA	$82,938	11,397	$2,367	34.3%
17	Hartford, CT	$36,278	35,494	$1,018	33.7%
18	Orlando, FL	$51,757	72,395	$1,436	33.3%
19	Burbank, CA	$75,827	24,301	$2,094	33.1%
20	North Charleston, SC	$45,510	23,107	$1,254	33.1%
21	Irvine, CA	$105,126	52,264	$2,890	33.0%
22	Costa Mesa, CA	$84,138	25,279	$2,301	32.8%
23	Fullerton, CA	$79,978	21,898	$2,165	32.5%
24	Rochester, NY	$35,590	54,908	$951	32.1%
25	Knoxville, TN	$40,341	43,837	$1,074	31.9%
26	Brandon, FL	$61,120	20,234	$1,620	31.8%
27	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	$90,953	21,764	$2,405	31.7%
28	Yonkers, NY	$63,849	40,333	$1,682	31.6%
29	Glendale, CA	$66,130	50,076	$1,724	31.3%
30	Tallahassee, FL	$45,734	45,567	$1,187	31.1%
31	Santa Clarita, CA	$99,666	20,681	$2,578	31.0%
32	Chula Vista, CA	$81,272	32,595	$2,098	31.0%
33	Jersey City, NJ	$70,752	73,185	$1,811	30.7%
34	Birmingham, AL	$37,375	50,093	$954	30.6%
35	Corona, CA	$83,752	17,559	$2,132	30.6%
36	Everett, WA	$60,759	23,508	$1,542	30.5%
37	Tempe, AZ	$57,994	43,380	$1,469	30.4%
38	Richmond, VA	$47,250	51,807	$1,192	30.3%
39	Lowell, MA	$56,878	22,741	$1,433	30.2%
40	Pembroke Pines, FL	$68,745	16,647	$1,721	30.0%
41	Savannah, GA	$43,307	29,758	$1,082	30.0%
42	Lakeland, FL	$47,511	18,333	$1,184	29.9%
43	Orange, CA	$91,793	18,136	$2,287	29.9%
44	Santa Rosa, CA	$75,630	30,498	$1,882	29.9%
45	Pasadena, CA	$83,068	32,046	$2,066	29.8%
46	Gresham, OR	$54,084	18,382	$1,340	29.7%
47	Boulder, CO	$69,520	21,753	$1,719	29.7%
48	Paradise, NV	$48,312	55,178	$1,186	29.5%
49	Miramar, FL	$70,669	12,622	$1,735	29.5%
50	Columbia, SC	$47,286	25,470	$1,155	29.3%

Least Affordable Small Cities for Renters

Small cities in Florida topped the list of least affordable small cities for renters, taking seven of the top 10 places. The rent-to-income ratio in small cities was 25% on average.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Union City, NJ	$48,992	19,410	$1,853	45.4%
2	Aventura, FL	$63,892	6,285	$2,351	44.2%
3	North Miami Beach, FL	$43,788	6,760	$1,569	43.0%
4	Boynton Beach, FL	$57,563	11,767	$1,932	40.3%
5	Kissimmee, FL	$40,826	13,018	$1,360	40.0%
6	Sunrise, FL	$54,744	11,136	$1,785	39.1%
7	Jonesboro, GA	$34,418	688	$1,110	38.7%
8	Bradenton, FL	$46,776	9,218	$1,509	38.7%
9	Marina del Rey, CA	$118,162	5,221	$3,775	38.3%
10	Delray Beach, FL	$60,746	10,895	$1,922	38.0%
11	Palm Harbor, FL	$59,557	7,170	$1,863	37.5%
12	Largo, FL	$44,323	15,334	$1,373	37.2%
13	West New York, NJ	$56,436	15,593	$1,722	36.6%
14	La Mesa, CA	$66,051	13,616	$2,010	36.5%
15	Tustin, CA	$84,697	12,938	$2,573	36.5%
16	Coconut Creek, FL	$62,973	8,125	$1,907	36.3%
17	Town 'n' Country, FL	$54,444	13,672	$1,641	36.2%
18	San Marcos, TX	$40,370	16,281	$1,213	36.1%
19	Citrus Heights, CA	$62,276	14,723	$1,845	35.6%
20	Doral, FL	$77,493	9,305	$2,263	35.1%
21	San Marcos, CA	$78,797	11,234	$2,264	34.5%
22	Daytona Beach, FL	$35,893	16,374	$1,026	34.3%
23	Upland, CA	$72,782	12,163	$1,993	32.9%
24	Chino Hills, CA	$106,347	6,344	$2,882	32.5%
25	Spokane Valley, WA	$51,961	17,402	$1,402	32.4%
26	Lakewood, WA	$51,972	13,985	$1,389	32.1%
27	Boca Raton, FL	$83,114	11,945	$2,208	31.9%
28	Avondale, AZ	$61,825	11,724	$1,638	31.8%
29	Melbourne, FL	$48,673	13,725	$1,288	31.8%
30	Sarasota, FL	$53,669	10,364	$1,420	31.8%
31	Calabasas, CA	$125,814	2,640	$3,329	31.8%
32	Palm Beach Gardens, FL	$87,969	6,307	$2,325	31.7%
33	Glendale, CO	$56,557	2,750	$1,492	31.7%
34	Sanford, FL	$47,217	11,039	$1,238	31.5%
35	Laguna Niguel, CA	$108,537	7,845	$2,839	31.4%
36	Federal Way, WA	$67,347	15,567	$1,759	31.3%
37	Wellington, FL	$92,586	4,982	$2,416	31.3%
38	Plantation, FL	$74,903	12,240	$1,945	31.2%
39	West Hollywood, CA	$74,044	18,902	$1,916	31.0%
40	Asheville, NC	$49,930	21,135	$1,289	31.0%
41	Marietta, GA	$57,452	14,250	$1,475	30.8%
42	Northglenn, CO	$66,300	6,191	$1,700	30.8%
43	Harrisburg, PA	$39,685	13,221	$1,016	30.7%
44	Norristown, PA	$48,414	8,021	$1,223	30.3%
45	Bloomington, IN	$37,077	19,762	$937	30.3%
46	Quincy, MA	$77,562	22,174	$1,957	30.3%
47	Bend, OR	$65,662	15,341	$1,655	30.2%
48	Humble, TX	$41,845	3,680	$1,047	30.0%
49	Altamonte Springs, FL	$52,888	11,855	$1,321	30.0%
50	North Druid Hills, GA	$66,660	5,325	$1,662	29.9%

Most Affordable Cities for Renters by City Size

Most Affordable Large Cities for Renters

Large cities in the center of the country topped the list of most affordable large cities for renters. These included cities in Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Minnesota. These cities generally featured slightly above-average household incomes, with lower-than-average rents.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Wichita, KS	$52,620	63,194	$765	17.4%
2	Omaha, NE	$60,092	77,321	$970	19.4%
3	Louisville, KY	$53,436	99,013	$916	20.6%
4	Oklahoma City, OK	$55,557	99,755	$1,002	21.7%
5	Lexington, KY	$57,291	59,136	$1,035	21.7%
6	Portland, OR	$71,005	125,266	$1,292	21.8%
7	Tulsa, OK	$47,650	80,810	$876	22.1%
8	Columbus, OH	$53,745	197,315	$991	22.1%
9	St. Paul, MN	$57,876	56,226	$1,069	22.2%
10	Seattle, WA	$92,263	180,114	$1,743	22.7%
11	Fort Worth, TX	$62,187	126,740	$1,175	22.7%
12	Kansas City, MO	$54,194	95,036	$1,046	23.2%
13	Cincinnati, OH	$40,640	85,483	$791	23.3%
14	Minneapolis, MN	$62,583	93,373	$1,244	23.8%
15	Albuquerque, NM	$52,911	90,295	$1,052	23.9%
16	Raleigh, NC	$67,266	88,903	$1,339	23.9%
17	San Jose, CA	$109,593	140,514	$2,194	24.0%
18	Indianapolis, IN	$47,873	158,507	$961	24.1%
19	Bakersfield, CA	$63,139	47,945	$1,273	24.2%
20	Colorado Springs, CO	$64,712	74,320	$1,316	24.4%
21	Charlotte, NC	$62,817	155,595	$1,286	24.6%
22	Washington, DC	$86,420	166,019	$1,779	24.7%
23	Houston, TX	$52,338	495,281	$1,078	24.7%
24	El Paso, TX	$47,568	93,322	$980	24.7%
25	Corpus Christi, TX	$56,333	50,616	$1,163	24.8%

Most Affordable Midsize Cities for Renters

Affordable midsize cities were split between cities with very high incomes and moderate housing costs, and cities with moderate incomes and very low housing costs. Examples of the former include The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Frisco, and Naperville, while examples of the latter include Cedar Rapids and Sioux Falls.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Cedar Rapids, IA	$58,511	17,002	$660	13.5%
2	The Woodlands, TX	$122,634	12,155	$1,433	14.0%
3	Rochester, MN	$73,106	15,166	$918	15.1%
4	Sugar Land, TX	$121,274	7,319	$1,542	15.3%
5	Olathe, KS	$90,435	13,379	$1,166	15.5%
6	Frisco, TX	$127,055	17,101	$1,642	15.5%
7	Sioux Falls, SD	$59,912	28,459	$809	16.2%
8	Naperville, IL	$125,926	12,686	$1,757	16.7%
9	Fargo, ND	$55,551	30,751	$778	16.8%
10	Norman, OK	$58,119	22,625	$822	17.0%
11	Cary, NC	$104,669	19,854	$1,506	17.3%
12	League City, TX	$109,073	8,669	$1,581	17.4%
13	Overland Park, KS	$86,487	28,573	$1,290	17.9%
14	Anchorage, AK	$84,928	41,200	$1,309	18.5%
15	Pearland, TX	$104,504	9,998	$1,636	18.8%
16	Amarillo, TX	$52,725	30,167	$827	18.8%
17	Lincoln, NE	$57,746	48,850	$911	18.9%
18	Little Rock, AR	$51,485	36,632	$819	19.1%
19	Des Moines, IA	$53,525	34,265	$854	19.1%
20	Columbia, MO	$51,276	25,335	$819	19.2%
21	Fort Wayne, IN	$49,411	40,583	$790	19.2%
22	Arvada, CO	$84,717	12,315	$1,395	19.8%
23	Plano, TX	$95,602	43,296	$1,576	19.8%
24	McKinney, TX	$93,354	21,389	$1,557	20.0%
25	Columbia, MD	$108,352	13,949	$1,835	20.3%
26	Lubbock, TX	$50,453	46,551	$874	20.8%
27	Topeka, KS	$47,999	23,518	$834	20.8%
28	Aurora, IL	$71,749	22,572	$1,247	20.9%
29	Arlington, VA	$120,071	61,280	$2,111	21.1%
30	Sunnyvale, CA	$140,631	30,642	$2,479	21.2%
31	Highlands Ranch, CO	$125,454	7,507	$2,240	21.4%
32	Alexandria, VA	$100,939	40,045	$1,834	21.8%
33	McAllen, TX	$46,804	17,895	$850	21.8%
34	Gilbert, AZ	$96,857	20,393	$1,769	21.9%
35	Centennial, CO	$109,324	7,103	$1,999	21.9%
36	Huntsville, AL	$55,305	36,827	$1,012	22.0%
37	Carrollton, TX	$78,306	19,891	$1,435	22.0%
38	Scottsdale, AZ	$88,213	38,963	$1,636	22.3%
39	Richardson, TX	$85,678	17,672	$1,602	22.4%
40	Greeley, CO	$57,586	14,770	$1,081	22.5%
41	Sandy Springs, GA	$78,613	24,530	$1,482	22.6%
42	Clarksville, TN	$53,604	26,427	$1,012	22.7%
43	Madison, WI	$65,332	58,449	$1,242	22.8%
44	Round Rock, TX	$82,676	15,568	$1,581	22.9%
45	Elk Grove, CA	$93,780	13,334	$1,805	23.1%
46	Salt Lake City, UT	$60,676	41,147	$1,169	23.1%
47	Pasadena, TX	$55,039	22,313	$1,063	23.2%
48	Lansing, MI	$41,674	24,200	$811	23.4%
49	Denton, TX	$60,018	23,940	$1,170	23.4%
50	Bellevue, WA	$120,456	26,687	$2,362	23.5%

Most Affordable Small Cities for Renters

Many of the top 10 most affordable small cities for renters are cities with very high household incomes and moderate rental costs. All of the top 10 most affordable small cities had median household incomes exceeding $80,000 per year.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Decatur, GA	$106,088	2,989	$1,161	13.1%
2	Bethesda, MD	$164,142	8,750	$1,874	13.7%
3	McLean, VA	$207,184	2,180	$2,448	14.2%
4	Hilliard, OH	$96,959	4,060	$1,184	14.6%
5	Bentonville, AR	$80,392	8,343	$1,032	15.4%
6	Troy, MI	$101,882	8,331	$1,317	15.5%
7	Flower Mound, TX	$137,285	3,560	$1,807	15.8%
8	Shawnee, KS	$87,120	6,615	$1,164	16.0%
9	Fort Mill, SC	$91,061	1,451	$1,221	16.1%
10	Madison, AL	$99,188	5,481	$1,347	16.3%
11	Carmel, IN	$112,765	9,003	$1,542	16.4%
12	St. Charles, MO	$68,486	10,009	$942	16.5%
13	Coppell, TX	$122,340	4,362	$1,702	16.7%
14	Ellicott City, MD	$131,534	6,700	$1,850	16.9%
15	Minot, ND	$66,194	9,090	$934	16.9%
16	Rowlett, TX	$101,085	2,974	$1,437	17.1%
17	Eagan, MN	$90,515	7,940	$1,302	17.3%
18	Farmington Hills, MI	$83,268	12,706	$1,206	17.4%
19	Lawton, OK	$47,779	18,169	$695	17.4%
20	Lenexa, KS	$87,102	8,472	$1,268	17.5%
21	Allen, TX	$105,925	8,687	$1,546	17.5%
22	Ashburn, VA	$132,331	4,878	$1,934	17.5%
23	Katy, TX	$83,091	1,306	$1,221	17.6%
24	Greer, SC	$61,744	4,344	$934	18.1%
25	Eden Prairie, MN	$111,981	6,685	$1,698	18.2%
26	West Des Moines, IA	$76,368	11,220	$1,161	18.2%
27	Apple Valley, MN	$89,251	4,438	$1,359	18.3%
28	Hoover, AL	$89,452	9,854	$1,364	18.3%
29	Reston, VA	$120,396	9,900	$1,844	18.4%
30	Plymouth, MN	$105,958	8,993	$1,628	18.4%
31	St. Cloud, MN	$49,135	13,199	$757	18.5%
32	Lee's Summit, MO	$89,969	8,385	$1,396	18.6%
33	Alpharetta, GA	$113,802	8,164	$1,768	18.6%
34	Naples, FL	$107,013	2,344	$1,672	18.7%
35	Falls Church, VA	$127,610	2,289	$1,999	18.8%
36	Johns Creek, GA	$122,514	6,583	$1,931	18.9%
37	Castle Rock, CO	$109,700	4,760	$1,734	19.0%
38	Grand Forks, ND	$50,076	14,277	$798	19.1%
39	Cedar Park, TX	$104,019	7,683	$1,661	19.2%
40	Sandy, UT	$94,018	6,696	$1,503	19.2%
41	Huntersville, NC	$102,016	5,075	$1,640	19.3%
42	Fort Smith, AR	$41,724	17,733	$672	19.3%
43	Edina, MN	$104,244	6,366	$1,679	19.3%
44	Bellevue, NE	$65,308	7,753	$1,058	19.4%
45	Concord, NC	$67,984	10,504	$1,106	19.5%
46	Roswell, GA	$99,726	10,892	$1,632	19.6%
47	Morrisville, NC	$101,738	5,088	$1,679	19.8%
48	Fairfax, VA	$116,979	2,573	$1,933	19.8%
49	Woodbridge, VA	$113,065	493	$1,877	19.9%
50	Pflugerville, TX	$93,627	5,405	$1,564	20.0%

Top 50 Least Affordable Cities for Renters

The table below lists the 50 least affordable cities for renters nationwide. Cities in which renters spend at least 33% of their median household income on rent qualified as a city for the least affordable list.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Miami, FL	$39,049	124,366	$1,624	49.9%
2	Union City, NJ	$48,992	19,410	$1,853	45.4%
3	Aventura, FL	$63,892	6,285	$2,351	44.2%
4	Allentown, PA	$41,167	24,990	$1,477	43.0%
5	North Miami Beach, FL	$43,788	6,760	$1,569	43.0%
6	Boynton Beach, FL	$57,563	11,767	$1,932	40.3%
7	Salinas, CA	$61,527	22,516	$2,050	40.0%
8	Kissimmee, FL	$40,826	13,018	$1,360	40.0%
9	Moreno Valley, CA	$66,134	19,510	$2,198	39.9%
10	Ontario, CA	$65,046	23,507	$2,154	39.7%
11	Sunrise, FL	$54,744	11,136	$1,785	39.1%
12	Jonesboro, GA	$34,418	688	$1,110	38.7%
13	Bradenton, FL	$46,776	9,218	$1,509	38.7%
14	Marina del Rey, CA	$118,162	5,221	$3,775	38.3%
15	Vista, CA	$72,125	15,337	$2,285	38.0%
16	Delray Beach, FL	$60,746	10,895	$1,922	38.0%
17	Santa Ana, CA	$66,145	41,309	$2,082	37.8%
18	Escondido, CA	$64,038	22,990	$2,010	37.7%
19	Palm Harbor, FL	$59,557	7,170	$1,863	37.5%
20	Oceanside, CA	$72,697	26,105	$2,263	37.4%
21	Largo, FL	$44,323	15,334	$1,373	37.2%
22	New Haven, CT	$42,222	35,420	$1,299	36.9%
23	West New York, NJ	$56,436	15,593	$1,722	36.6%
24	La Mesa, CA	$66,051	13,616	$2,010	36.5%
25	Tustin, CA	$84,697	12,938	$2,573	36.5%
26	Los Angeles, CA	$62,142	874,365	$1,883	36.4%
27	Coconut Creek, FL	$62,973	8,125	$1,907	36.3%
28	New York, NY	$63,998	2,132,397	$1,938	36.3%
29	Town 'n' Country, FL	$54,444	13,672	$1,641	36.2%
30	Anaheim, CA	$71,763	56,042	$2,161	36.1%
31	San Marcos, TX	$40,370	16,281	$1,213	36.1%
32	Gainesville, FL	$37,264	30,010	$1,117	36.0%
33	Worcester, MA	$48,139	42,042	$1,440	35.9%
34	Clearwater, FL	$48,691	19,757	$1,446	35.6%
35	Citrus Heights, CA	$62,276	14,723	$1,845	35.6%
36	Pompano Beach, FL	$49,518	19,458	$1,450	35.1%
37	Doral, FL	$77,493	9,305	$2,263	35.1%
38	Port St. Lucie, FL	$60,587	15,021	$1,765	34.9%
39	West Palm Beach, FL	$54,334	21,236	$1,569	34.6%
40	San Marcos, CA	$78,797	11,234	$2,264	34.5%
41	Newark, NJ	$35,199	77,942	$1,009	34.4%
42	Daytona Beach, FL	$35,893	16,374	$1,026	34.3%
43	West Covina, CA	$82,938	11,397	$2,367	34.3%
44	Boston, MA	$71,115	175,116	$2,025	34.2%
45	Hartford, CT	$36,278	35,494	$1,018	33.7%
46	Long Beach, CA	$63,017	100,354	$1,757	33.4%
47	Fresno, CA	$50,432	89,850	$1,406	33.4%
48	Orlando, FL	$51,757	72,395	$1,436	33.3%
49	Burbank, CA	$75,827	24,301	$2,094	33.1%
50	North Charleston, SC	$45,510	23,107	$1,254	33.1%

Top 50 Most Affordable Cities for Renters

The following cities were the most affordable cities for renters. In these cities, renters spent 18.8% or less of their household income on rent.

Rank	City	Median Household Income	Rental Households	Weighted Rent	Rent-Income Ratio
1	Decatur, GA	$106,088	2,989	$1,161	13.1%
2	Cedar Rapids, IA	$58,511	17,002	$660	13.5%
3	Bethesda, MD	$164,142	8,750	$1,874	13.7%
4	The Woodlands, TX	$122,634	12,155	$1,433	14.0%
5	McLean, VA	$207,184	2,180	$2,448	14.2%
6	Hilliard, OH	$96,959	4,060	$1,184	14.6%
7	Rochester, MN	$73,106	15,166	$918	15.1%
8	Sugar Land, TX	$121,274	7,319	$1,542	15.3%
9	Bentonville, AR	$80,392	8,343	$1,032	15.4%
10	Olathe, KS	$90,435	13,379	$1,166	15.5%
11	Troy, MI	$101,882	8,331	$1,317	15.5%
12	Frisco, TX	$127,055	17,101	$1,642	15.5%
13	Flower Mound, TX	$137,285	3,560	$1,807	15.8%
14	Shawnee, KS	$87,120	6,615	$1,164	16.0%
15	Fort Mill, SC	$91,061	1,451	$1,221	16.1%
16	Sioux Falls, SD	$59,912	28,459	$809	16.2%
17	Madison, AL	$99,188	5,481	$1,347	16.3%
18	Carmel, IN	$112,765	9,003	$1,542	16.4%
19	St. Charles, MO	$68,486	10,009	$942	16.5%
20	Coppell, TX	$122,340	4,362	$1,702	16.7%
21	Naperville, IL	$125,926	12,686	$1,757	16.7%
22	Fargo, ND	$55,551	30,751	$778	16.8%
23	Ellicott City, MD	$131,534	6,700	$1,850	16.9%
24	Minot, ND	$66,194	9,090	$934	16.9%
25	Norman, OK	$58,119	22,625	$822	17.0%
26	Rowlett, TX	$101,085	2,974	$1,437	17.1%
27	Eagan, MN	$90,515	7,940	$1,302	17.3%
28	Cary, NC	$104,669	19,854	$1,506	17.3%
29	Farmington Hills, MI	$83,268	12,706	$1,206	17.4%
30	League City, TX	$109,073	8,669	$1,581	17.4%
31	Wichita, KS	$52,620	63,194	$765	17.4%
32	Lawton, OK	$47,779	18,169	$695	17.4%
33	Lenexa, KS	$87,102	8,472	$1,268	17.5%
34	Allen, TX	$105,925	8,687	$1,546	17.5%
35	Ashburn, VA	$132,331	4,878	$1,934	17.5%
36	Katy, TX	$83,091	1,306	$1,221	17.6%
37	Overland Park, KS	$86,487	28,573	$1,290	17.9%
38	Greer, SC	$61,744	4,344	$934	18.1%
39	Eden Prairie, MN	$111,981	6,685	$1,698	18.2%
40	West Des Moines, IA	$76,368	11,220	$1,161	18.2%
41	Apple Valley, MN	$89,251	4,438	$1,359	18.3%
42	Hoover, AL	$89,452	9,854	$1,364	18.3%
43	Reston, VA	$120,396	9,900	$1,844	18.4%
44	Plymouth, MN	$105,958	8,993	$1,628	18.4%
45	St. Cloud, MN	$49,135	13,199	$757	18.5%
46	Anchorage, AK	$84,928	41,200	$1,309	18.5%
47	Lee's Summit, MO	$89,969	8,385	$1,396	18.6%
48	Alpharetta, GA	$113,802	8,164	$1,768	18.6%
49	Naples, FL	$107,013	2,344	$1,672	18.7%
50	Pearland, TX	$104,504	9,998	$1,636	18.8%

Methodology

We ranked 500 U.S. cities based upon housing affordability, which we defined as the percentage of median household income spent on rent for the average household. We used rental price data from Apartment List, which estimates the median rent for rental properties in cities across the United States. We also used data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, which provides information about the median household income in each city, and the composition of households, estimating the number of households with 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more members. 

We used the data on household composition to determine the average weighted rent cost for each city, which was based upon a fixed ratio of bedrooms to household members. We calculated the percentage of median household income that would need to be spent by the average household to rent average housing in each city, based upon each city’s household composition. We ranked all 500 cities based on this affordability metric, finding the most and least affordable cities for renters nationwide. We also found the most and least affordable small, midsize, and large cities for renters, with small cities being those with under 100,000 population; midsize cities having between 100,000 and 300,000 population, and large cities having over 300,000 residents.

Sources

1. Apartment List Data & Rent Estimates, City-Level Historic Estimates
2. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey