Rent affordability rankings

The most affordable cities for renters in 2026

By brightplaceUpdated October 9, 2026Sources: Census ACS 2020–2024, Apartment ListHow we calculate

Clarksville, TN is the most affordable of 218 U.S. metros for renters: a typical 1-bedroom with utilities takes 23% of the median renter household's income there. Bridgeport, CT is the least affordable at 60%. In 169 of 218 metros, a typical new 1-bedroom takes more than 30% of what the median renter household earns.

Metros ranked: 218
Over 30% of income: 169
Most affordable: Clarksville 23%
Least affordable: Bridgeport 60%

10 most affordable metros for renters

Clarksville, TN: $766 1-bedroom, $52,263 median renter income, 23% of income
Bozeman, MT: $1,015 1-bedroom, $65,092 median renter income, 24% of income
Austin, TX: $1,143 1-bedroom, $70,155 median renter income, 24% of income
Daphne, AL: $1,056 1-bedroom, $65,755 median renter income, 24% of income
Lawton, OK: $615 1-bedroom, $43,188 median renter income, 24% of income
Lakeland, FL: $892 1-bedroom, $55,582 median renter income, 24% of income
Bend, OR: $1,239 1-bedroom, $71,488 median renter income, 25% of income
Rapid City, SD: $752 1-bedroom, $46,373 median renter income, 25% of income
Moses Lake, WA: $816 1-bedroom, $51,201 median renter income, 25% of income
Punta Gorda, FL: $784 1-bedroom, $49,127 median renter income, 25% of income

10 least affordable metros for renters

Bridgeport, CT: $1,847 1-bedroom, $42,329 median renter income, 60% of income
Auburn, AL: $1,019 1-bedroom, $27,632 median renter income, 55% of income
Trenton, NJ: $1,397 1-bedroom, $37,816 median renter income, 52% of income
Hartford, CT: $1,355 1-bedroom, $36,827 median renter income, 52% of income
Lexington Park, MD: $1,808 1-bedroom, $48,603 median renter income, 51% of income
Detroit, MI: $1,009 1-bedroom, $30,178 median renter income, 50% of income
Bloomington, IN: $1,088 1-bedroom, $31,173 median renter income, 50% of income
Jackson, MS: $1,033 1-bedroom, $30,987 median renter income, 50% of income
Atlantic City, NJ: $1,195 1-bedroom, $35,103 median renter income, 49% of income
Baltimore, MD: $1,471 1-bedroom, $43,788 median renter income, 48% of income

All 218 metros

Share is the monthly cost of a typical 1-bedroom, with utilities, internet, and renters insurance, divided by the median renter household's monthly income in the metro's main city. Lower is more affordable. Download the table as CSV.

Rank	City	1-bed rent	Monthly cost	Income needed	Renter income	Share
1	Clarksville, TN	$766	$984	$39,360	$52,263	23%
2	Bozeman, MT	$1,015	$1,289	$51,560	$65,092	24%
3	Austin, TX	$1,143	$1,393	$55,720	$70,155	24%
4	Daphne, AL	$1,056	$1,307	$52,280	$65,755	24%
5	Lawton, OK	$615	$860	$34,400	$43,188	24%
6	Lakeland, FL	$892	$1,133	$45,320	$55,582	24%
7	Bend, OR	$1,239	$1,462	$58,480	$71,488	25%
8	Rapid City, SD	$752	$950	$38,000	$46,373	25%
9	Moses Lake, WA	$816	$1,050	$42,000	$51,201	25%
10	Punta Gorda, FL	$784	$1,016	$40,640	$49,127	25%
11	Rochester, MN	$995	$1,204	$48,160	$57,990	25%
12	Deltona, FL	$1,084	$1,316	$52,640	$63,174	25%
13	Port St. Lucie, FL	$1,105	$1,337	$53,480	$63,983	25%
14	Sioux Falls, SD	$831	$1,029	$41,160	$49,209	25%
15	Naples, FL	$1,357	$1,593	$63,720	$75,528	25%
16	Hickory, NC	$737	$963	$38,520	$44,610	26%
17	Cape Coral, FL	$1,038	$1,286	$51,440	$59,384	26%
18	Bloomington, IL	$830	$1,045	$41,800	$48,056	26%
19	Longview, TX	$768	$984	$39,360	$45,246	26%
20	Killeen, TX	$762	$1,008	$40,320	$45,931	26%
21	Huntsville, AL	$852	$1,100	$44,000	$50,019	26%
22	Ogden, UT	$930	$1,143	$45,720	$51,719	27%
23	Prescott Valley, AZ	$1,079	$1,307	$52,280	$59,002	27%
24	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$924	$1,152	$46,080	$52,004	27%
25	Sherman, TX	$810	$1,061	$42,440	$47,413	27%
26	Colorado Springs, CO	$1,130	$1,379	$55,160	$61,410	27%
27	St. George, UT	$1,003	$1,234	$49,360	$54,650	27%
28	Wenatchee, WA	$950	$1,184	$47,360	$51,630	28%
29	Tyler, TX	$895	$1,146	$45,840	$49,822	28%
30	Anchorage, AK	$1,246	$1,541	$61,640	$66,267	28%
31	Sierra Vista, AZ	$923	$1,151	$46,040	$49,408	28%
32	Seattle, WA	$1,790	$2,054	$82,160	$88,103	28%
33	Denver, CO	$1,430	$1,669	$66,760	$71,437	28%
34	Charlotte, NC	$1,225	$1,457	$58,280	$61,696	28%
35	North Port, FL	$1,242	$1,474	$58,960	$62,267	28%
36	Phoenix, AZ	$1,139	$1,387	$55,480	$58,494	28%
37	Greenville, SC	$1,030	$1,253	$50,120	$52,685	29%
38	McAllen, TX	$667	$904	$36,160	$37,978	29%
39	Boise, ID	$1,171	$1,381	$55,240	$57,101	29%
40	St. Cloud, MN	$883	$1,092	$43,680	$45,101	29%
41	Modesto, CA	$1,117	$1,411	$56,440	$58,073	29%
42	Lafayette, LA	$816	$1,053	$42,120	$43,198	29%
43	Fargo, ND	$890	$1,106	$44,240	$45,278	29%
44	Durham, NC	$1,177	$1,408	$56,320	$57,602	29%
45	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$1,032	$1,266	$50,640	$51,696	29%
46	Crestview, FL	$1,124	$1,356	$54,240	$55,329	29%
47	Napa, CA	$1,710	$1,985	$79,400	$80,884	29%
48	Salisbury, MD	$980	$1,218	$48,720	$49,288	30%
49	Fayetteville, NC	$942	$1,161	$46,440	$46,640	30%
50	Grand Forks, ND	$930	$1,125	$45,000	$44,955	30%
51	Salem, OR	$1,021	$1,263	$50,520	$50,425	30%
52	Raleigh, NC	$1,242	$1,493	$59,720	$59,538	30%
53	Jackson, TN	$721	$957	$38,280	$38,147	30%
54	Rock Springs, WY	$802	$1,032	$41,280	$41,092	30%
55	Wichita, KS	$818	$1,038	$41,520	$41,237	30%
56	Davenport, IA	$803	$1,047	$41,880	$41,589	30%
57	Oklahoma City, OK	$895	$1,142	$45,680	$44,992	30%
58	San Antonio, TX	$970	$1,221	$48,840	$48,069	30%
59	Corpus Christi, TX	$1,035	$1,288	$51,520	$50,675	31%
60	San Angelo, TX	$958	$1,200	$48,000	$47,024	31%
61	Provo, UT	$990	$1,221	$48,840	$47,762	31%
62	Stockton, CA	$1,152	$1,427	$57,080	$55,660	31%
63	Nashville, TN	$1,224	$1,445	$57,800	$56,009	31%
64	Santa Rosa, CA	$1,637	$1,928	$77,120	$74,480	31%
65	Dallas, TX	$1,224	$1,482	$59,280	$57,052	31%
66	Riverside, CA	$1,426	$1,703	$68,120	$65,462	31%
67	Victoria, TX	$952	$1,203	$48,120	$46,237	31%
68	Lincoln, NE	$1,002	$1,208	$48,320	$46,336	31%
69	Greensboro, NC	$951	$1,170	$46,800	$44,844	31%
70	Salt Lake City, UT	$1,196	$1,406	$56,240	$53,821	31%
71	Orlando, FL	$1,289	$1,524	$60,960	$58,280	31%
72	Eugene, OR	$939	$1,170	$46,800	$44,447	32%
73	Santa Fe, NM	$1,156	$1,379	$55,160	$52,296	32%
74	Reno, NV	$1,289	$1,531	$61,240	$58,037	32%
75	Chattanooga, TN	$1,030	$1,254	$50,160	$47,513	32%
76	San Diego, CA	$1,932	$2,227	$89,080	$84,349	32%
77	Spokane, WA	$974	$1,216	$48,640	$45,811	32%
78	Sacramento, CA	$1,397	$1,659	$66,360	$62,366	32%
79	Pueblo, CO	$786	$1,005	$40,200	$37,769	32%
80	Las Vegas, NV	$1,129	$1,353	$54,120	$50,805	32%
81	San Francisco, CA	$2,689	$3,004	$120,160	$112,757	32%
82	Brownsville, TX	$711	$953	$38,120	$35,726	32%
83	Tulsa, OK	$899	$1,153	$46,120	$43,127	32%
84	Jacksonville, FL	$1,117	$1,364	$54,560	$50,996	32%
85	Columbus, OH	$1,126	$1,385	$55,400	$51,734	32%
86	Amarillo, TX	$981	$1,222	$48,880	$45,502	32%
87	Virginia Beach, VA	$1,438	$1,690	$67,600	$62,879	32%
88	Johnson City, TN	$809	$1,024	$40,960	$38,066	32%
89	Grand Rapids, MI	$1,088	$1,307	$52,280	$48,580	32%
90	Des Moines, IA	$979	$1,232	$49,280	$45,663	32%
91	Fayetteville, AR	$886	$1,109	$44,360	$41,100	32%
92	Burlington, NC	$996	$1,222	$48,880	$45,226	32%
93	Warner Robins, GA	$1,012	$1,266	$50,640	$46,638	33%
94	Hilton Head Island, SC	$1,406	$1,633	$65,320	$60,117	33%
95	Tampa, FL	$1,244	$1,494	$59,760	$54,879	33%
96	Portland, ME	$1,256	$1,492	$59,680	$54,776	33%
97	Sioux City, IA	$960	$1,175	$47,000	$43,100	33%
98	Houston, TX	$1,136	$1,366	$54,640	$50,091	33%
99	Albuquerque, NM	$994	$1,216	$48,640	$44,444	33%
100	Bowling Green, KY	$844	$1,072	$42,880	$39,153	33%
101	Lynchburg, VA	$830	$1,077	$43,080	$39,180	33%
102	Manchester, NH	$1,377	$1,651	$66,040	$59,908	33%
103	Little Rock, AR	$852	$1,112	$44,480	$40,328	33%
104	Omaha, NE	$1,082	$1,312	$52,480	$47,573	33%
105	Toledo, OH	$712	$970	$38,800	$35,080	33%
106	Atlanta, GA	$1,331	$1,582	$63,280	$57,026	33%
107	Winston-Salem, NC	$903	$1,129	$45,160	$40,660	33%
108	Pittsburgh, PA	$1,057	$1,306	$52,240	$46,983	33%
109	Asheville, NC	$1,123	$1,351	$54,040	$48,591	33%
110	Evansville, IN	$839	$1,079	$43,160	$38,807	33%
111	Lexington, KY	$981	$1,208	$48,320	$43,391	33%
112	Palm Bay, FL	$1,175	$1,426	$57,040	$50,990	34%
113	Knoxville, TN	$906	$1,148	$45,920	$41,024	34%
114	Tucson, AZ	$923	$1,155	$46,200	$41,264	34%
115	Billings, MT	$1,009	$1,281	$51,240	$45,701	34%
116	Portland, OR	$1,440	$1,675	$67,000	$59,728	34%
117	Charleston, SC	$1,491	$1,722	$68,880	$61,054	34%
118	Indianapolis, IN	$1,079	$1,303	$52,120	$46,182	34%
119	Worcester, MA	$1,118	$1,372	$54,880	$48,532	34%
120	Providence, RI	$1,178	$1,437	$57,480	$50,828	34%
121	Pensacola, FL	$1,085	$1,324	$52,960	$46,771	34%
122	Fort Wayne, IN	$941	$1,175	$47,000	$41,348	34%
123	Lafayette, IN	$990	$1,209	$48,360	$42,158	34%
124	Kennewick, WA	$1,103	$1,337	$53,480	$46,250	35%
125	Memphis, TN	$917	$1,192	$47,680	$41,072	35%
126	LaGrange, GA	$807	$1,061	$42,440	$36,541	35%
127	Lancaster, PA	$1,124	$1,379	$55,160	$47,480	35%
128	Midland, TX	$1,425	$1,681	$67,240	$57,686	35%
129	Bremerton, WA	$1,383	$1,617	$64,680	$55,485	35%
130	Fresno, CA	$1,095	$1,407	$56,280	$48,221	35%
131	Minneapolis, MN	$1,329	$1,561	$62,440	$53,427	35%
132	Columbus, GA	$1,039	$1,283	$51,320	$43,837	35%
133	Duluth, MN	$883	$1,128	$45,120	$38,304	35%
134	Lubbock, TX	$969	$1,209	$48,360	$41,054	35%
135	El Paso, TX	$928	$1,160	$46,400	$39,143	36%
136	Flagstaff, AZ	$1,383	$1,611	$64,440	$54,299	36%
137	Fort Collins, CO	$1,431	$1,684	$67,360	$56,735	36%
138	Greeley, CO	$1,106	$1,349	$53,960	$45,442	36%
139	Washington, DC	$1,973	$2,281	$91,240	$76,809	36%
140	Louisville, KY	$1,003	$1,259	$50,360	$42,348	36%
141	Columbus, IN	$1,223	$1,453	$58,120	$48,728	36%
142	Gainesville, GA	$1,139	$1,373	$54,920	$45,602	36%
143	Greenville, NC	$923	$1,151	$46,040	$38,142	36%
144	Kansas City, MO	$1,191	$1,426	$57,040	$47,206	36%
145	Waco, TX	$889	$1,140	$45,600	$37,674	36%
146	Vallejo, CA	$1,700	$1,975	$79,000	$65,204	36%
147	Myrtle Beach, SC	$966	$1,192	$47,680	$39,284	36%
148	Houma, LA	$904	$1,142	$45,680	$37,617	36%
149	South Bend, IN	$959	$1,189	$47,560	$39,140	36%
150	Roanoke, VA	$1,000	$1,247	$49,880	$40,701	37%
151	Kingsport, TN	$723	$959	$38,360	$31,254	37%
152	Terre Haute, IN	$671	$901	$36,040	$29,260	37%
153	Beaumont, TX	$942	$1,184	$47,360	$38,348	37%
154	Madison, WI	$1,385	$1,624	$64,960	$52,502	37%
155	St. Louis, MO	$1,038	$1,262	$50,480	$40,752	37%
156	Boston, MA	$1,929	$2,206	$88,240	$71,055	37%
157	Wilmington, NC	$1,215	$1,441	$57,640	$46,344	37%
158	Oxnard, CA	$2,003	$2,275	$91,000	$73,009	37%
159	Richmond, VA	$1,265	$1,523	$60,920	$48,196	38%
160	Battle Creek, MI	$905	$1,122	$44,880	$35,286	38%
161	San Jose, CA	$2,965	$3,288	$131,520	$103,391	38%
162	Mobile, AL	$891	$1,131	$45,240	$35,554	38%
163	Olympia, WA	$1,416	$1,677	$67,080	$52,563	38%
164	Panama City, FL	$1,106	$1,354	$54,160	$42,376	38%
165	Montgomery, AL	$1,014	$1,258	$50,320	$39,117	39%
166	Chicago, IL	$1,536	$1,793	$71,720	$55,604	39%
167	Lansing, MI	$1,047	$1,276	$51,040	$39,279	39%
168	Akron, OH	$872	$1,116	$44,640	$34,305	39%
169	Odessa, TX	$1,381	$1,643	$65,720	$50,422	39%
170	Springfield, MO	$1,008	$1,271	$50,840	$38,715	39%
171	Ann Arbor, MI	$1,288	$1,542	$61,680	$46,778	40%
172	Savannah, GA	$1,233	$1,497	$59,880	$45,241	40%
173	Las Cruces, NM	$781	$990	$39,600	$29,894	40%
174	Milwaukee, WI	$1,068	$1,363	$54,520	$41,063	40%
175	Honolulu, HI	$1,938	$2,197	$87,880	$65,871	40%
176	Cincinnati, OH	$962	$1,233	$49,320	$36,840	40%
177	Miami, FL	$1,494	$1,743	$69,720	$51,972	40%
178	Hattiesburg, MS	$964	$1,203	$48,120	$35,682	40%
179	Philadelphia, PA	$1,388	$1,635	$65,400	$48,344	41%
180	Santa Maria, CA	$1,735	$2,010	$80,400	$59,220	41%
181	Charlottesville, VA	$1,399	$1,650	$66,000	$48,462	41%
182	Gulfport, MS	$941	$1,180	$47,200	$34,634	41%
183	Albany, NY	$1,233	$1,515	$60,600	$44,178	41%
184	Augusta, GA	$1,035	$1,285	$51,400	$37,432	41%
185	Los Angeles, CA	$1,890	$2,167	$86,680	$62,931	41%
186	Allentown, PA	$1,167	$1,452	$58,080	$41,867	42%
187	New Orleans, LA	$976	$1,235	$49,400	$35,372	42%
188	Kalamazoo, MI	$954	$1,224	$48,960	$34,736	42%
189	Buffalo, NY	$1,041	$1,312	$52,480	$37,106	42%
190	Athens, GA	$1,056	$1,310	$52,400	$36,858	43%
191	Tallahassee, FL	$1,107	$1,409	$56,360	$39,572	43%
192	Columbia, SC	$1,068	$1,302	$52,080	$36,500	43%
193	Dayton, OH	$863	$1,107	$44,280	$30,881	43%
194	Macon, GA	$964	$1,212	$48,480	$33,680	43%
195	Harrisburg, PA	$1,078	$1,327	$53,080	$36,708	43%
196	Tuscaloosa, AL	$980	$1,231	$49,240	$33,495	44%
197	Boulder, CO	$1,545	$1,797	$71,880	$48,546	44%
198	Shreveport, LA	$953	$1,191	$47,640	$32,077	45%
199	Norwich, CT	$1,314	$1,554	$62,160	$41,626	45%
200	New Haven, CT	$1,401	$1,661	$66,440	$44,462	45%
201	Spartanburg, SC	$1,027	$1,254	$50,160	$33,520	45%
202	Birmingham, AL	$1,085	$1,340	$53,600	$35,675	45%
203	Gainesville, FL	$989	$1,245	$49,800	$33,071	45%
204	Lake Charles, LA	$1,016	$1,254	$50,160	$33,060	46%
205	Cleveland, OH	$931	$1,174	$46,960	$30,921	46%
206	New York, NY	$2,145	$2,473	$98,920	$64,129	46%
207	Baton Rouge, LA	$1,014	$1,276	$51,040	$32,844	47%
208	College Station, TX	$1,130	$1,382	$55,280	$35,172	47%
209	Baltimore, MD	$1,471	$1,744	$69,760	$43,788	48%
210	Atlantic City, NJ	$1,195	$1,446	$57,840	$35,103	49%
211	Jackson, MS	$1,033	$1,281	$51,240	$30,987	50%
212	Bloomington, IN	$1,088	$1,308	$52,320	$31,173	50%
213	Detroit, MI	$1,009	$1,268	$50,720	$30,178	50%
214	Lexington Park, MD	$1,808	$2,046	$81,840	$48,603	51%
215	Hartford, CT	$1,355	$1,599	$63,960	$36,827	52%
216	Trenton, NJ	$1,397	$1,648	$65,920	$37,816	52%
217	Auburn, AL	$1,019	$1,270	$50,800	$27,632	55%
218	Bridgeport, CT	$1,847	$2,134	$85,360	$42,329	60%

Methodology and sources

Updated October 9, 2026. Each metro is represented by its main city. Rent is the Apartment List median 1-bedroom asking rent for the metro as of August 2026, the price of a new lease. Monthly cost adds a 1-bedroom utility estimate scaled to the city's household utility bills where we have them and the state's otherwise, plus state-average internet and renters insurance. Income needed is the gross income at which that cost is 30% of pay, the HUD cost-burden line. Renter income is the median household income of renter households in the main city from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B19013, B25003, B25031, B25064, B25070, and B25119). Renter incomes are averaged over five years and asking rents are current, so the share reads high where rents have climbed fastest. College towns rank lower than their rents suggest because student households report little income. Metros without a 1-bedroom rent series are left out.

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