Every person is different, including renters. Each has their own needs, wants, and priorities that are influenced by their situation and lifestyle. However, when looking at the general renter trends, two clear camps emerge: the lifestyle-oriented renter and the practical one. These groups represent opposing sides of the renter spectrum.
Key Takeaways
- Renters are increasingly splitting into two distinct camps: lifestyle-oriented renters who prioritize character, views, and vibe, and practicality-oriented renters who prioritize cost, convenience, and location.
- Nearly 7 in 10 rental markets show a lifestyle-driven search pattern, with character/style ranking among the top five search keywords in 46 percent of all markets studied.
- Price is the top consideration for renters overall: 79 percent call it a top-three factor, and 81 percent would rather see total pricing upfront than dig through listing details.
- San Diego and Honolulu stand out as the most lifestyle-driven markets, while Boston and New York lead as the most practicality-driven, with renters there prioritizing transit access, unit location, and no-fee listings over aesthetics.
Two Renters, Same Search Bar, Completely Different Wish Lists
When looking at renter preferences, there is a clear division between preferences. Lifestyle-oriented renters are looking for a community and apartment that revolve around the vibe and experience. The space has to be functional as well as serving as an extension of their personal identity and lifestyle.
Practical renters are willing to pay the price for an apartment that saves them time, money, or effort. Convenience and simplification are the priorities, whether that’s through location, layout, or services.
The features and amenities tied to each trend can appeal to both types of renters, but they generally cater to one group more strongly:
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Lifestyle-Oriented Amenities/Features |
Practical Amenities/Features |
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Inside the Lifestyle Rental Market: Character, Views, and Style
Lifestyle-focused renters aren’t just searching for a place to rest their head, but for a space that reflects who they are and helps them enjoy every day. The apartment hunt is becoming more about character than the floor plan. Data from Apartments.com shows that that nearly seven in 10 rental markets showed a lifestyle-driven search, such as character/style, view(s), water access/front, natural light.
It’s a place where a renter might be living for a long time, so they want all the bells and whistles. That way, they can do everything they want at home, like going to the gym, swimming at the pool, or socializing on a rooftop or in a lounge.
Broader cultural trends have made apartments closely tied to sense of self. Social media has pushed interiors into the spotlight, remote work has turned apartments into all-day living spaces, and wellness trends have made a well-curated atmosphere essential. This shift toward lifestyle-driven renting has changed the apartment hunt, which shows up in a few ways:
Character/style
Renters are increasingly focusing on the vibe and aesthetics of their apartment, instead of just the necessary must-haves. From that same data earlier, character and style made the top five search keywords in 97 of 210 markets studied, roughly 46% of the total.
While the apartment needs to work for them, renters also want a place that stands out. A loft with exposed concrete and piping is much more memorable than varying shades of gray walls. These unique features help renters imagine themselves living there.
Views and natural light
Views and natural light are a major component of an apartment’s vibe. They can make a space feel airy and spacious, or, without them, like a shoebox. That appeal shows up in the data as view(s) popped up in 52 markets, or 24.8 percent, while natural light was present in 23 markets, or 11 percent. This is especially important to renters who spend a lot of time in their apartment, as they want features that improve the daily quality of their life.
Waterfront/water access or hot tub/sauna/steam room
Water has become a defining element of the atmosphere and vibe. It conveys a sense of relaxation and calm that gives renters a retreat after a hectic day. Waterfront/water access was one of the top keywords, appearing in 61 markets (29 percent of all markets analyzed) and ranked as the top search keyword in 29 of them.
What Practicality Looks Like in an Apartment: Price, Utilities Included, Amenities, and Location
Practicality-oriented renters are less concerned with an apartment’s aesthetics and more focused on how it improves daily life. They want features and amenities that simplify or eliminate daily tasks, whether that helps them free up time for what they love, work toward personal goals and life milestones, or just make apartment life easier to manage.
A Q2 2026 survey by Apartments.com found that the top three most important considerations for renters when selecting their next residence were price, location, and safety and security. These functional priorities show up across the apartment search, guiding nearly every decision a practical-oriented renter makes.
Total pricing
Price is the most important factor for an apartment; 79 percent of renters said that it was one of their top three considerations, and 73 percent said that an over-budget rental instantly eliminated it from the running. Practical renters not only prioritize price, but also how quickly they can evaluate the cost of an apartment without having to dig through the listing.
That is why so many renters are interested in total pricing, with 81 percent of respondents saying they’d rather see the total price (monthly rent and required fees). One quick glance and a renter can determine if an apartment will work for them or not, saving them time and effort.
Utilities included
Apartments that come with utilities are rising in popularity. From the survey by Apartments.com, 29 percent of renters said they looked for apartments with utilities included, making it one of the top five apartment hunt amenities. Practicality-oriented renters appreciate having utility bills rolled into one payment with rent, so they don’t have to pay multiple bills. Depending on how the utilities are charged, flat-rate or based on usage, it can also make monthly expenses more predictable.
Must-have amenities
Practical amenities have become the hottest apartment features. They ensure renters are comfortable and help them handle responsibilities. The top two amenities that renters considered must-haves were A/C, at 65 percent, and in-unit laundry, at 64 percent. One helps make living in an apartment tolerable, especially during the hot summer months, while the other eliminates the need to leave the apartment to do laundry.
Unit and community location
Both the location of the unit within the apartment community and the apartment community’s location are at the front of practical renters’ minds. Renters want to be near practical destinations. According to an Apartments.com survey on what renters are looking to live close to, practicality options took the top two spots with work and grocery stores being 54 and 47 percent respectively.
The unit location matters just as much since it combines both lifestyle and practicality. Some prefer first floor units for easy access, while others prefer a top floor apartment for the quiet or the views.
Where Lifestyle Is Winning
Some markets show a clear lean toward lifestyle-driven searching. The following cities had all four core vibe keywords (Character/Style, View(s), Water Access/Front, and Natural Light) ranking among their top five search terms:
A broader set of cities came close, with three of the four vibe keywords landing in their top five search terms:
- Los Angeles, CA
- Charleston, SC
- Seattle, WA
- Savannah, GA
- Monterey, CA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- Miami, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Chicago, IL
San Diego, CA
San Diego's lifestyle-driven search behavior fits naturally with the city's identity. With miles of coastline, a laid-back beach culture, and excellent weather year-round, renters’ lives in San Diego revolve around sun, surf, and scenery. To truly make the most of their time, they look for apartment communities that carry this same vibe through a beachfront setting or proximity to green spaces.
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu is on another level when it comes to being a lifestyle-focused city. Being an island, swimming, surfing, and hiking are essential to most residents. Living somewhere this scenic and full of recreation, renters always want to see and experience it. They’re chasing that Hawaii experience of aesthetics over convenience.
Where Practicality Comes Out on Top
As with the lifestyle-focused cities, we turned to keywords to identify practicality-driven cities. Markets that had three of the top four core keywords (No Fees, Unit Location, Transit, Cable/Internet/Wi-Fi Included) were:
A larger group of cities had two of the four core keywords in their top search terms:
- Chicago, IL
- Columbia, MO
- Dayton, OH
- Des Moines, IA
- Erie, PA
- Green Bay, WI
- New Haven, CT
- Lexington, KY
- Palm Springs, CA
- Roanoke, VA
- Utica, NY
- Scranton, PA
- Wilmington, NC
Boston, MA
Boston is a city built around institutions, where people often move for opportunities rather than ambiance. That doesn’t mean the city isn’t beautiful, but with the denseness and activity, renters are often searching for practicality first. That means being close to work or public transit, or to amenities that quicken responsibilities.
New York, NY
New York carries a similar practicality. It's one of the most demanding rental markets in the country, expensive, competitive, and fast-moving, which creates a more down-to-earth renter. They’re searching for subway proximity, neighborhood location, and affordability, rather than aesthetics. The apartment needs to make living in such a big city easier, rather than being stylish.
Your Search, Your Priorities
Whether you're chasing character and views or just want a place that keeps life simple, you can skip the endless filter list and just say what you want. Apartments.com Ai allows you to search in your own words, like “a pet-friendly one-bedroom near downtown with a gym” or “a no-fee apartment close to the train,” and get back listings that actually match what you meant. It understands the full picture of what matters to you, so whether you're leading with vibe or with logistics, you'll get there faster with Apartments.com.
FAQs
What is a lifestyle renter?
A lifestyle renter is someone who prioritizes the look, feel, and experience of their apartment over pure function. They're drawn to features like character and style, natural light, views, and water access. These elements reflect their personal identity and enhance day-to-day enjoyment of their space. For lifestyle renters, an apartment isn't just a place to live; it's an extension of who they are and how they want to feel at home.
What is a practical renter?
A practicality-oriented renter prioritizes convenience, cost, and efficiency over aesthetics. They look for features that save time, money, or effort, like total pricing transparency, included utilities, easy access to transit, or a location close to work and errands. The apartment needs to work first, with style being a secondary consideration.
Is it true that Gen Z prefers to rent?
Not exactly. It's less about preferring to rent and more about affordability. Data from Apartments.com shows 58 percent of Gen Z prospective homeowners want to live in or near a city, more than any other generation, but city living often carries a steep price. As a result, many are choosing to rent in the city they love rather than buy somewhere else, and 42 percent say their interest in city living has only grown over the past two years. Renting is less of a temporary stop and more of a long-term choice for a lot of young adults.
