Top 10 Cities in America for Renters

This month, the annual report from ApartmentAdvisor on the top cities for renters in the US was released.

The report analyzed 98 major cities across the country based on:

• Renter friendliness score
• Renting quality score
• Economic score
• Desirability score

The determination of renter friendliness and renting quality scores was based on demand, vacant rates, tenant protection laws, and new residential construction. Meanwhile, the desirability score was calculated using public transit and entertainment, while the economic score was established by analyzing the median income-to-median rent ratio, rental property price trends, and unemployment rates.

The ranking of cities was determined using a 100% scale based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, ApartmentAdvisor, Walkscore, and Yelp.

ApartmentAdvisor considered only the median one-bedroom monthly rent for this report.

Raleigh is the most renter-friendly city in America

The renter friendliness score is 65.72, while the renting quality score is 64.4. The economic score is 81.9, and the desirability score is 21.1.

According to the ApartmentAdvisor report, Raleigh, North Carolina is the most renter-friendly city, with a median monthly rent of $1,263 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Raleigh had the second-highest number of permits for new privately owned housing units per capita in the metro area, according to the report, which indicates the city's efforts to meet the demand for its housing market.

Since August 2022, rent in Raleigh has decreased year over year, despite the city being more expensive to live in than other southern cities, according to ApartmentAdvisor's report.

Raleigh experienced a 1.87% population growth from 2022 to 2023, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Raleigh, North Carolina, is the second-most populous city in the state, which is also ranked No. 2 on CNBC's annual list of top states for business. Although it previously held the top spot in 2022 and 2023, it was surpassed by Virginia this year.

10 most renter-friendly cities in America 2024

1. Raleigh, N.C.
2. Huntsville, Ala.
3. Oakland, Calif.
4. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
5. Portland, Ore.
6. Jacksonville, Fla.
7. Nashville, Tenn.
8. Pittsburgh, Penn.
9. Sioux Falls, S.D.
10. Forth Worth, Texas

Huntsville, Alabama, was ranked as the second most renter-friendly city in the U.S., with a renter-friendliness score of 64.86, a renting quality score of 61, an economic score of 89.9, and a desirability score of 22.6.

Like Raleigh, Huntsville was highly ranked due to its high number of new residential construction permits and low vacancy rates. Additionally, the city boasted one of the lowest median rents — $863 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.

According to PayScale, the cost of living in Huntsville is 8% lower than the national average and housing expenses are 25% lower.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a museum showcasing the country's space program, is located in Huntsville, which became synonymous with space exploration during the Space Race of the 1960s. NASA has a significant presence in the area, with one of its largest centers situated on a military base.

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