The 7 most renter-friendly big cities in the US
Madison Hoff
- Raleigh, North Carolina, was the most renter-friendly among 98 cities analyzed by ApartmentAdvisor.
- The ranking factors included rental vacancy and unemployment rates, among others.
Amid peak rental season, some cities are better suited than others for renters thinking about their next move.
Raleigh, North Carolina, took the top spot on ApartmentAdvisor's list of the "The Most Renter-Friendly U.S. Cities in 2024." The analysis focused on around 100 major US cities with available data.
It took into account different measures and factors to ultimately create a "Renter Friendliness Score" for each city that was then used to develop the ranking. "We pretty much knew from other studies we've done that rent prices alone wouldn't be the only factor that would make a city renter-friendly," Lilly Milman, editor at ApartmentAdvisor, told Business Insider.
The friendliness score was largely based on the Renting Quality Score, which included several different factors, such as rental vacancy rate and state landlord-tenant laws.
An Economic Score, which included median year-over-year rent growth, unemployment rate, and an index about the "rent burden for a hypothetical individual renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city," was also used to figure out which places are the most renter-friendly. A Desirability Score, which includes things like walkability and number per capita of restaurants, shopping locations, and other city features, also contributed to the overall score.
While Raleigh at No. 1 and Huntsville, Alabama, at No. 2 had pretty low desirability scores, Milman pointed out price decreases, new construction, and availability for places as some of the highlights of these two US locations.
Milman advised people considering relocating or renting somewhere new "to really know your market before you move there."
Below are the 7 most renter-friendly cities among the US locations part of the analysis.
7. Nashville
Renter Friendliness Score: 56.72
ApartmentAdvisor said the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Nashville was $1,499 a month. Plus, Milman said in the blog post on the results that median "rent prices are still a little high relative to income," yet it added, "prices are going down in Nashville, bringing some relief to renters."
Nashville residents can visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Lane Motor Museum, or the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.
6. Jacksonville, Florida
Renter Friendliness Score: 57.14
The blog post said the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Jacksonville, Florida, was $1,117 a month. It also said the city "came in fourth for its relative number of permits granted for new privately owned housing units per capita" among the places part of the analysis.
"While the South has been seeing some of the most population growth in the country, it has been able to keep up with demand due to ample construction," the ApartmentAdvisor post said.
People in Jacksonville could hang out on one of the beaches there, visit Riverside Arts Market on Saturdays, and go to the Museum of Science and History.
5. Portland, Oregon
Renter Friendliness Score: 57.71
The median monthly rent in this city was $1,407. The blog post noted the city's relatively high desirability among the places part of the analysis and that "it's a place that's very walk-, bike-, and transit-accessible with a high density of entertainment options." The post also noted the state's rent control among the "many tenant protection laws" present — another potential pro for prospective renters hoping to live in Portland, Oregon.
Portland residents could attend a city tour, go on rides at Oaks Park, or buy tickets to visit the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
4. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Renter Friendliness Score: 59.51
The blog post said Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had a rental vacancy rate of more than 10%, and the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $849 a month. "Compare that with a median income of $52,081, and the estimated rent burden is only 19.6%," the blog post said.
People in Cedar Rapids can enjoy mountain biking and other kinds of trails, visit the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and watch the Minor League Baseball team — the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
3. Oakland, California
Renter Friendliness Score: 64.71
The median one-bedroom monthly rent in this city was $1,941. There are plenty of options for renters looking for a spot in Oakland; the ApartmentAdvisor post called out how the city had a "healthy vacancy rate and a high average number of days on market for apartment listings."
"In California cities like Oakland, landlords have strict requirements on how much they can raise rent from year to year — making it one of the best cities for renters," the blog post said.
People in Oakland can enjoy the Oakland Aviation Museum, visit Children's Fairyland, and attend Oaktoberfest in the Dimond.
2. Huntsville, Alabama
Renter Friendliness Score: 64.86
The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $863 a month in Huntsville, Alabama, which was relatively low compared to the roughly 100 major cities analyzed. The blog post called out the city's "high number of new residential construction permits and healthy vacancy rate."
People in Huntsville could try the Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt, get tickets for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, or buy items at one of the farmer's markets.
1. Raleigh, North Carolina
Renter Friendliness Score: 65.72
"The capital of North Carolina came out on top based on its high economic score, as well as a few renter-friendly factors like its amount of new residential construction and healthy vacancy rate," the blog post said.
The median one-bedroom apartment rent in this city was $1,263 a month. The blog post noted how rapidly Raleigh's population has grown compared to other US places and that the city ranked No. 2 for permits for new privately owned housing units per capita.
The post noted despite the population growth, "the metro area has done its best to keep up with demand for its housing market."
Raleigh residents can visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the Marbles Kids Museum, or attend an event held at Raleigh Convention Center.
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