The cost of buying a home was 55% higher in May than the year before, both as a result of prices increasing and higher mortgage rates, the National Association of Realtors reported. And rates have continued to rise since. For many Americans, renting is the only financially feasible choice. However, rents have also skyrocketed, and in some places where renting is relatively uncommon, there are very few rental properties available.
To determine the 50 cities with the lowest share of rental properties, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by renters from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. Cities needed to have a population of at least 25,000 to be considered.
Nationwide, 35.6% of housing units are rental properties. Among the 50 cities on this list, that figure ranges from 13.9% to as low as 5.8% of housing units. New York has the most places on this list, with nine, followed by Maryland with six, and Illinois with five.
Young people are far more likely to rent homes than buy. Well over half of all renters in the United States are under the age of 35, whereas that age group accounts for less than 10% of homeowners. Many of the cities on this list have such low shares of renters because they have older populations.
According to the census, 23.2% of Americans are 18-34 years old. In all but one of the places on this list, that age group accounts for a smaller share of the population, and in the vast majority, less than 20% of the population falls into that age range. In the community of Sun City West, Arizona, a noted retirement destination, just 2.2% of the population is 18-34, the lowest share of any place with 25,000 people. This is the youngest place in every state.
Many of the places on this list have such low rental rates because they are long-standing suburban housing developments, made up almost entirely of single-family homes, with no multi-story buildings that often are used as rental properties. One such example is Levittown, New York, the famous suburban housing development in Long Island built after World War II that housed tens of thousands of Americans, many of them veterans. In Levittown, just 5.8% of housing units are rental properties, the lowest such share in the country. These are the American towns where the most veterans live.
Click here to see cities with the lowest rental rates
To determine the 50 cities with the lowest share of renters, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by renters from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used census “place” geographies — a category that includes incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. We defined cities based on a population threshold — census places needed to have a population of at least 25,000 to be considered.
Cities were excluded if rental rates were not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a city’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a city’s rental rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all cities’ rental rates. We similarly excluded cities that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Cities were ranked based on the percentage of housing units that are occupied by renters. To break ties, we used the number of housing units that are occupied by renters.
Additional information on median rental cost, median home value, and median household income are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
Source: via Facebook / courtesy of Fleming Island, Florida
50. Fleming Island, Florida
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,464 — 480th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $278,300 — 764th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $101,685 — 258th highest of 1,769 cities
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49. Muskego, Wisconsin
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,201 — 856th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $304,400 — 675th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $95,472 — 343rd highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
48. Evans, Georgia
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.7%
> Median rental cost: $1,483 — 460th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $267,900 — 801st highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $112,051 — 166th highest of 1,769 cities
47. Germantown, Tennessee
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,358 — 632nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $337,600 — 580th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $123,387 — 99th highest of 1,769 cities
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46. Orland Park, Illinois
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,203 — 855th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $289,000 — 722nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $84,676 — 496th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: martiecl / iStock via Getty Images
45. Baldwin, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,838 — 183rd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $431,000 — 359th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $121,630 — 106th highest of 1,769 cities
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44. Indian Trail, North Carolina
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,488 — 450th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $238,800 — 827th lowest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $86,512 — 455th highest of 1,769 cities
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43. El Dorado Hills, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,915 — 148th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $657,300 — 137th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $132,130 — 68th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
42. Northbrook, Illinois
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,949 — 134th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $563,200 — 203rd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $128,883 — 77th highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
41. Kaysville, Utah
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,077 — 666th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $368,700 — 481st highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $103,730 — 234th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: KenHudak / Getty Images
40. Livonia, Michigan
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.1%
> Median rental cost: $1,095 — 704th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $204,300 — 648th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $82,158 — 540th highest of 1,769 cities
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39. Blaine, Minnesota
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,475 — 466th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $240,700 — 833rd lowest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $86,796 — 449th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
38. Burke, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,345 — 42nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $557,000 — 210th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $149,833 — 38th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
37. Lakeville, Minnesota
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.8%
> Median rental cost: $1,464 — 480th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $325,400 — 617th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $112,020 — 167th highest of 1,769 cities
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36. McLean, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.6%
> Median rental cost: $3,176 — 5th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $1,061,500 — 31st highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $222,587 — 3rd highest of 1,769 cities
35. East Meadow, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,933 — 142nd highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $478,700 — 278th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $109,895 — 184th highest of 1,769 cities
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34. Oakville, Missouri
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.5%
> Median rental cost: $953 — 464th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $241,600 — 836th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $86,505 — 456th highest of 1,769 cities
33. North Ridgeville, Ohio
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,049 — 616th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $188,400 — 570th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $77,560 — 613th highest of 1,769 cities
32. Palm City, Florida
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,740 — 246th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $391,700 — 428th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $100,272 — 291st highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: Kenneth C. Zirkel / Wikimedia Commons
31. Hicksville, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.4%
> Median rental cost: $2,141 — 73rd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $480,300 — 276th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $119,190 — 119th highest of 1,769 cities
30. Bella Vista, Arkansas
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.4%
> Median rental cost: $959 — 477th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $173,300 — 484th lowest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $71,258 — 764th highest of 1,769 cities
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29. Chanhassen, Minnesota
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.1%
> Median rental cost: $1,469 — 475th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $400,300 — 412th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $124,184 — 95th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: Courtesy of Acroterion under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) / Wikimedia Commons
28. Eldersburg, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.8%
> Median rental cost: $1,235 — 797th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $391,600 — 429th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $125,981 — 89th highest of 1,769 cities
27. Queen Creek, Arizona
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,640 — 325th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $363,800 — 490th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $104,161 — 230th highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: YSPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
26. Wilmette, Illinois
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,498 — 435th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $685,600 — 122nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $161,765 — 21st highest of 1,769 cities
Source: Jacqueline Cooper / iStock via Getty Images
25. Canyon Lake, Texas
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,158 — 836th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $243,300 — 850th lowest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $77,946 — 604th highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: BCFC / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
24. Sun City West, Arizona
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,226 — 811th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $237,300 — 810th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $54,444 — 539th lowest of 1,769 cities
Source: EdwardSnow / iStock via Getty Images
23. Columbine, Colorado
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.4%
> Median rental cost: $2,019 — 110th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $432,300 — 357th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $105,089 — 224th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: Grandbrothers / iStock via Getty Images
22. Clarksburg, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.3%
> Median rental cost: $2,110 — 82nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $514,200 — 245th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $149,173 — 42nd highest of 1,769 cities
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21. Linton Hall, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.2%
> Median rental cost: $2,266 — 56th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $454,800 — 310th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $149,824 — 39th highest of 1,769 cities
20. Cottage Grove, Minnesota
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.1%
> Median rental cost: $1,470 — 474th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $261,500 — 838th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $102,600 — 243rd highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: Matthew Van Dyke / iStock via Getty Images
19. Olney, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.1%
> Median rental cost: $2,047 — 99th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $524,700 — 237th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $149,155 — 43rd highest of 1,769 cities
Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
18. Clinton, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,620 — 342nd highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $321,500 — 631st highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $110,108 — 179th highest of 1,769 cities
17. North Tustin, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.8%
> Median rental cost: $1,942 — 138th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $938,900 — 46th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $149,631 — 40th highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: Alex Potemkin / Getty Images
16. Oceanside, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.7%
> Median rental cost: $1,721 — 263rd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $490,600 — 266th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $116,619 — 137th highest of 1,769 cities
15. Prosper, Texas
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.7%
> Median rental cost: $1,634 — 331st highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $482,700 — 271st highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $153,777 — 32nd highest of 1,769 cities
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14. Plainfield, Illinois
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,737 — 249th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $322,500 — 627th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $131,241 — 72nd highest of 1,769 cities
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Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
13. Leawood, Kansas
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,629 — 338th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $472,500 — 286th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $156,538 — 28th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: Joan D Squared / iStock via Getty Images
12. Smithtown, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,473 — 472nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $553,800 — 215th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $137,625 — 58th highest of 1,769 cities
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11. Severna Park, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.8%
> Median rental cost: $1,520 — 413th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $549,100 — 219th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $151,969 — 35th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: Concord715 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
10. Brentwood, Tennessee
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.7%
> Median rental cost: $2,033 — 104th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $682,100 — 125th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $160,174 — 23rd highest of 1,769 cities
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9. Prairieville, Louisiana
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,113 — 745th lowest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $259,000 — 849th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $99,722 — 298th highest of 1,769 cities
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8. Plainview, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,933 — 142nd highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $612,300 — 164th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $156,622 — 27th highest of 1,769 cities
Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images
7. New City, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,829 — 189th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $494,400 — 262nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $143,873 — 49th highest of 1,769 cities
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6. Bel Air North, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,481 — 463rd highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $359,700 — 508th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median household income: $117,129 — 132nd highest of 1,769 cities
5. New Lenox, Illinois
> Rental occupied housing units: 8.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,163 — 844th lowest of 1,769 cities
> Median home value: $308,500 — 670th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $115,327 — 141st highest of 1,769 cities
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4. Eagle Mountain, Utah
> Rental occupied housing units: 8.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,634 — 331st highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $317,500 — 642nd highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $87,094 — 445th highest of 1,769 cities
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3. Wildwood, Missouri
> Rental occupied housing units: 7.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,284 — 723rd highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $384,200 — 446th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $135,177 — 63rd highest of 1,769 cities
2. Commack, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 6.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,894 — 161st highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $523,400 — 238th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $144,825 — 47th highest of 1,769 cities
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1. Levittown, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 5.8%
> Median rental cost: $2,047 — 99th highest of 1,769 cities (tied)
> Median home value: $425,600 — 370th highest of 1,769 cities
> Median household income: $121,260 — 111th highest of 1,769 cities
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