Median rents have hit record highs across the country, thanks to inflation and pandemic-related shortages of housing and building supplies. In many parts of the country, people who choose to rent may find it difficult to meet conventional wisdom’s rule that monthly rent should not exceed 30% of one’s monthly income. While rent prices are much more affordable in some parts of the country, in the vast majority of states there is at least one city where rents are especially high.
To find the city with the highest rent in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median gross rent among places with at least 25,000 people from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. It is important to note that the figures reflected here are for 2020, the most recent data available through the census. While prices today are much higher across much of the country, the most expensive rental market in each state in 2020 is likely still one of the most expensive markets in 2022. The national 2020 median rent was $1,096. In 42 of the 50 states, there is at least one city with a higher 2020 median gross rent.
Housing costs reflect the income levels of the population living there. Costs tend to be more expensive in wealthier communities. Of the 50 cities on this list, 44 have higher typical household incomes compared to their home state and more than half have median household income of at least $100,000. The U.S. median household income is $64,996. University Park, Texas, which has a 2020 median monthly gross rent of $2,095, has a median annual household income of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. This is the richest town in every state.
Nationwide, 2020 median gross rent comes to 29.6% of median household income. As a result of higher incomes in the cities on the list, in 31 rent is actually relatively affordable. The affluent Silicon Valley community of Los Altos, California, has the highest median gross rent in the country. Nevertheless, with a median household income of just over $240,000, median gross rent comes to less than 20% of income. These are the U.S. cities where the most families need food stamps.
Click here to see here’s the most expensive city to rent in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Vestavia Hills
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,313 (Alabama: $811)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.2% (Alabama: 28.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.5% (Alabama: 30.8%)
> Median home value: $380,600 (Alabama: $149,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 23
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Alaska: Fairbanks
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,327 (Alaska: $1,240)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.7% (Alaska: 27.5%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 62.2% (Alaska: 35.2%)
> Median home value: $217,700 (Alaska: $275,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 3
Source: Christopher Harris / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Queen Creek
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,640 (Arizona: $1,097)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.7% (Arizona: 29.0%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.6% (Arizona: 34.7%)
> Median home value: $363,800 (Arizona: $242,000)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 39
Arkansas: Bentonville
> Median monthly rental cost: $978 (Arkansas: $760)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 19.3% (Arkansas: 27.2%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 48.9% (Arkansas: 34.2%)
> Median home value: $258,300 (Arkansas: $133,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 19
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California: Los Altos
> Median monthly rental cost: $3,375 (California: $1,586)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 19.2% (California: 32.2%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 20.2% (California: 44.7%)
> Median home value: $2,000,000+ (California: $538,500)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 302
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Colorado: Erie
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,128 (Colorado: $1,335)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 34.7% (Colorado: 30.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.6% (Colorado: 33.8%)
> Median home value: $514,000 (Colorado: $369,900)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 33
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Connecticut: Stamford
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,877 (Connecticut: $1,201)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.9% (Connecticut: 30.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 49.7% (Connecticut: 33.9%)
> Median home value: $541,600 (Connecticut: $279,700)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 24
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Delaware: Newark
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,282 (Delaware: $1,150)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 41.7% (Delaware: 29.7%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 46.6% (Delaware: 28.6%)
> Median home value: $277,700 (Delaware: $258,300)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 3
Florida: Parkland
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,670 (Florida: $1,218)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 43.0% (Florida: 33.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.7% (Florida: 33.8%)
> Median home value: $631,000 (Florida: $232,000)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 157
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Georgia: Johns Creek
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,702 (Georgia: $1,042)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.5% (Georgia: 29.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.7% (Georgia: 36.0%)
> Median home value: $423,600 (Georgia: $190,200)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 45
Source: JMKnewLife / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: East Honolulu
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,690 (Hawaii: $1,651)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.4% (Hawaii: 32.5%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.7% (Hawaii: 39.7%)
> Median home value: $968,200 (Hawaii: $636,400)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 10
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Idaho: Eagle
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,275 (Idaho: $887)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.8% (Idaho: 27.9%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.5% (Idaho: 29.2%)
> Median home value: $455,800 (Idaho: $235,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 13
Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
Illinois: Northbrook
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,949 (Illinois: $1,038)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.6% (Illinois: 28.7%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.2% (Illinois: 33.7%)
> Median home value: $563,200 (Illinois: $202,100)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 90
Indiana: Zionsville
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,408 (Indiana: $844)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.9% (Indiana: 28.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.4% (Indiana: 30.5%)
> Median home value: $406,800 (Indiana: $148,900)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 39
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Iowa: Ankeny
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,108 (Iowa: $806)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.8% (Iowa: 26.7%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 26.3% (Iowa: 28.8%)
> Median home value: $239,300 (Iowa: $153,900)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 18
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Kansas: Leawood
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,629 (Kansas: $863)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.8% (Kansas: 27.0%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.2% (Kansas: 33.8%)
> Median home value: $472,500 (Kansas: $157,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 15
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Kentucky: Jeffersontown
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,015 (Kentucky: $783)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.9% (Kentucky: 27.1%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 32.4% (Kentucky: 32.4%)
> Median home value: $186,600 (Kentucky: $147,100)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 15
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Louisiana: Slidell
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,227 (Louisiana: $876)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 39.2% (Louisiana: 32.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 33.0% (Louisiana: 33.4%)
> Median home value: $167,900 (Louisiana: $168,100)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 18
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Maine: South Portland
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,346 (Maine: $873)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.4% (Maine: 28.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 35.7% (Maine: 27.1%)
> Median home value: $276,100 (Maine: $198,000)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 4
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Maryland: Clarksburg
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,110 (Maryland: $1,415)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.7% (Maryland: 29.7%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.3% (Maryland: 32.9%)
> Median home value: $514,200 (Maryland: $325,400)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 52
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Massachusetts: Lexington
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,431 (Massachusetts: $1,336)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.5% (Massachusetts: 29.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 18.3% (Massachusetts: 37.5%)
> Median home value: $933,800 (Massachusetts: $398,800)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 63
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Michigan: Novi
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,352 (Michigan: $892)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.5% (Michigan: 29.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 33.5% (Michigan: 28.3%)
> Median home value: $325,500 (Michigan: $162,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 45
Source: Courtesy of City of Andover, MN via Facebook
Minnesota: Andover
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,684 (Minnesota: $1,010)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.0% (Minnesota: 28.2%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 7.1% (Minnesota: 28.1%)
> Median home value: $305,900 (Minnesota: $235,700)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 42
Source: Courtesy of City of Olive Branch - Government via Facebook
Mississippi: Olive Branch
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,182 (Mississippi: $789)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.0% (Mississippi: 29.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.8% (Mississippi: 31.2%)
> Median home value: $188,800 (Mississippi: $125,500)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 13
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Missouri: Wildwood
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,284 (Missouri: $843)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.8% (Missouri: 27.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 7.6% (Missouri: 32.9%)
> Median home value: $384,200 (Missouri: $163,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 28
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Bozeman
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,145 (Montana: $836)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.7% (Montana: 27.7%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 57.4% (Montana: 31.5%)
> Median home value: $412,500 (Montana: $244,900)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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Nebraska: Bellevue
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,010 (Nebraska: $857)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.8% (Nebraska: 26.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 36.6% (Nebraska: 33.8%)
> Median home value: $165,900 (Nebraska: $164,000)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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Nevada: Summerlin South
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,949 (Nevada: $1,159)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.5% (Nevada: 30.0%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.4% (Nevada: 42.9%)
> Median home value: $449,000 (Nevada: $290,200)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 14
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New Hampshire: Nashua
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,309 (New Hampshire: $1,145)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.0% (New Hampshire: 28.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 45.3% (New Hampshire: 28.8%)
> Median home value: $279,800 (New Hampshire: $272,300)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 5
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New Jersey: Paramus
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,503 (New Jersey: $1,368)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 36.6% (New Jersey: 30.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 17.4% (New Jersey: 36.0%)
> Median home value: $614,900 (New Jersey: $343,500)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 39
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New Mexico: Rio Rancho
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,157 (New Mexico: $857)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.3% (New Mexico: 29.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 20.6% (New Mexico: 32.0%)
> Median home value: $200,800 (New Mexico: $175,700)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 11
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New York: Harrison
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,286 (New York: $1,315)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.1% (New York: 30.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 35.4% (New York: 45.9%)
> Median home value: $871,800 (New York: $325,000)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 61
North Carolina: Holly Springs
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,489 (North Carolina: $932)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.1% (North Carolina: 28.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 18.3% (North Carolina: 34.3%)
> Median home value: $354,500 (North Carolina: $182,100)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 40
North Dakota: Williston
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,009 (North Dakota: $828)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.7% (North Dakota: 24.4%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 53.7% (North Dakota: 37.5%)
> Median home value: $244,400 (North Dakota: $199,900)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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Ohio: Mason
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,381 (Ohio: $825)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.2% (Ohio: 27.5%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 21.0% (Ohio: 33.7%)
> Median home value: $313,400 (Ohio: $151,400)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 61
Oklahoma: Edmond
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,092 (Oklahoma: $818)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.0% (Oklahoma: 27.2%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 29.4% (Oklahoma: 33.9%)
> Median home value: $253,500 (Oklahoma: $142,400)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 16
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.jpg#/media/File:Bethany_Bible_Church_(Washington_County,_Oregon).jpg "Bethany Bible Church (Washington County, Oregon) by Steve Morgan")
Oregon: Bethany
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,811 (Oregon: $1,173)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.8% (Oregon: 30.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 31.8% (Oregon: 37.2%)
> Median home value: $572,200 (Oregon: $336,700)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 23
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Pennsylvania: Levittown
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,136 (Pennsylvania: $958)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 34.9% (Pennsylvania: 28.6%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.6% (Pennsylvania: 31.0%)
> Median home value: $232,900 (Pennsylvania: $187,500)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 23
_--_2006_--_6.jpg#/media/File:Warwick_(Rhode_Island,_USA)_--_2006_--_6.jpg "Warwick (Rhode Island, USA) -- 2006 -- 6 by Dietmar Rabich")
Rhode Island: Warwick
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,168 (Rhode Island: $1,031)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.2% (Rhode Island: 29.0%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 29.8% (Rhode Island: 38.4%)
> Median home value: $238,300 (Rhode Island: $276,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 6
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South Carolina: Mount Pleasant
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,702 (South Carolina: $918)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.4% (South Carolina: 29.7%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.2% (South Carolina: 29.9%)
> Median home value: $472,900 (South Carolina: $170,100)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 19
Source: James_Gabbert / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Median monthly rental cost: $855 (South Dakota: $761)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.4% (South Dakota: 25.2%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 39.0% (South Dakota: 32.0%)
> Median home value: $194,100 (South Dakota: $174,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 3
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Tennessee: Brentwood
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,033 (Tennessee: $897)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.5% (Tennessee: 28.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.7% (Tennessee: 33.5%)
> Median home value: $682,100 (Tennessee: $177,600)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 28
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Texas: University Park
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,095 (Texas: $1,082)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 38.0% (Texas: 29.1%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 17.0% (Texas: 37.7%)
> Median home value: $1,351,400 (Texas: $187,200)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 125
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Utah: Syracuse
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,766 (Utah: $1,090)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.2% (Utah: 27.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 8.5% (Utah: 29.5%)
> Median home value: $340,900 (Utah: $305,400)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 38
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Vermont: Burlington
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,279 (Vermont: $999)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 34.4% (Vermont: 29.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 62.4% (Vermont: 28.7%)
> Median home value: $312,200 (Vermont: $230,900)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 1
*Because Burlington is the only eligible city in Vermont, it is the city with the highest rent by default.
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Virginia: McLean
> Median monthly rental cost: $3,176 (Virginia: $1,257)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.7% (Virginia: 28.8%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.6% (Virginia: 33.3%)
> Median home value: $1,061,500 (Virginia: $282,800)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 43
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Washington: Sammamish
> Median monthly rental cost: $2,395 (Washington: $1,337)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.5% (Washington: 29.1%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.1% (Washington: 36.7%)
> Median home value: $878,000 (Washington: $366,800)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 47
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West Virginia: Morgantown
> Median monthly rental cost: $840 (West Virginia: $732)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 43.1% (West Virginia: 28.9%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 55.6% (West Virginia: 26.3%)
> Median home value: $215,000 (West Virginia: $123,200)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 5
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Wisconsin: Brookfield
> Median monthly rental cost: $1,495 (Wisconsin: $872)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.5% (Wisconsin: 27.0%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.2% (Wisconsin: 32.9%)
> Median home value: $331,500 (Wisconsin: $189,200)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 34
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Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Median monthly rental cost: $882 (Wyoming: $853)
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.5% (Wyoming: 26.3%)
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.5% (Wyoming: 29.0%)
> Median home value: $229,100 (Wyoming: $228,000)
> No. of cities considered in ranking: 4
Methodology
To determine the city with the highest rent in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median gross rent 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 median gross rent was not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 500 renter-occupied 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 median gross rent was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all cities’ median gross rents. We similarly excluded cities that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Cities were ranked based on the median gross rent. To break ties, we used the median gross rent as a share of household income.
Additional information on median gross rent as a share of household income, share of households occupied by renters, and median home value are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
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