With 45 million American households renting their home, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s Best & Worst Places to Rent, as well as expert commentary, to help prospective renters get the most bang for their buck.
WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 21 key indicators of rental attractiveness and quality of life. Our data set ranges from the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments to rental affordability, the cost of living and job availability.
| Best Cities for Renters | Worst Cities for Renters | |
| 1. Bismarck, ND | 173. Burlington, VT | |
| 2. Overland Park, KS | 174. Gulfport, MS | |
| 3. Scottsdale, AZ | 175. New Orleans, LA | |
| 4. Sioux Falls, SD | 176. Newark, NJ | |
| 5. Lewiston, ME | 177. Baton Rouge, LA | |
| 6. Chandler, AZ | 178. Jackson, MS | |
| 7. Fargo, ND | 179. Tacoma, WA | |
| 8. Gilbert, AZ | 180. Cleveland, OH | |
| 9. Huntsville, AL | 181. Detroit, MI | |
| 10. Lincoln, NE | 182. Memphis, TN |
Best vs. Worst
- Bismarck, North Dakota, has the highest rental affordability, with the lowest median annual gross rent divided by median annual household income at 15.30 percent. This is 2.3 times lower than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the lowest at 35.32 percent.
- Augusta, Georgia, has the highest rental vacancy rate, which is 8.8 times higher than in Nashua, New Hampshire, the city with the lowest.
- Newark, New Jersey, has the highest share of renter-occupied housing units, which is 4.4 times higher than in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the city with the lowest.
- Brownsville, Texas, has the lowest cost-of-living index, which is 2.4 times lower than in Honolulu and Pearl City, Hawaii, the cities with the highest.
- Irvine, California, has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), which is 32.3 times fewer than in Memphis, Tennessee, the city with the most.
