When deciding whether to rent vs buy, consider the city. Some cities, like New York, have such a high average home price that buying is prohibitive to many, leading to a higher number of renters. Other places, such as Colorado Springs, have such low housing prices that buying a home is more feasible. Knowing the ratio of renters vs. homeowners in a city and the reasons behind those choices can help you decide between renting or owning.
The top five US cities with the most renters are:
The top five US cities with the most homeowners are:
Methodology
Household counts for renters and homeowners are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. We set a limit that a city must have a minimum household count of 400,000. Rent, home prices, and cost of living data are from the Apartments.com Rent Trends and Cost of Living Calculator pages as of January 2026.
Top US Cities with the Most Renters
What makes a city renter-friendly?
One of the most significant factors that makes a city renter-friendly is the cost. In cities with a high average home price, many choose to rent as they cannot afford a home. Renters have the flexibility to move and relocate with their budget.
It also depends on the availability of home types. In compact and big cities, the majority of options are apartments, making the area more renter-friendly. Cities with excellent public transit and walking/biking infrastructure make it much easier for renters to get around. Many people want to live in the middle of the action, and renting in a big city is the best way to experience all the city has to offer, including local businesses, restaurants, shops, nightlife, and more.
Los Angeles, CA
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Why Los Angeles is popular among renters
The various lifestyle and career paths in Los Angeles have made it one of the most populous cities in the US. Whether you’re diving into the entertainment and creative industries, leaning towards the tech side, or wanting to live somewhere that supports an active lifestyle, there’s something for everyone.
Due to the fluctuations of the job market and many people working in project-based industries, renting is preferred for flexibility. It offers a steady life as well since Los Angeles has one of the most comprehensive sets of renter protection laws in the US.
Homes in Los Angeles are largely unaffordable, driven by limited space, scarce new construction, and a market dominated by luxury builds rather than entry-level housing. Add in high homeowners insurance and property taxes, and the cost burden grows even heavier. As a result, the average home price in Los Angeles sits 153 percent higher than the national average.
New York, NY
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Why New York is popular among renters
New York was built as a renter city with many of the buildings being apartments and rentals. With few single-family homes available, most residents choose between apartments, condos, and co-ops, but the latter two are often out of reach due to pricing. The average home price soars 457 percent above the national average without even counting all the taxes and other fees tacked on.
Yet this doesn’t stop people from heading to the city in droves. Job opportunities and lifestyle have kept renter interest in the city elevated. Renters also have extensive protections in New York, from rent stabilization to the FARE Act.
San Diego, CA
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Why San Diego is popular among renters
Just like many of the other California cities, owning a home in San Diego is often unattainable since the average home price is 115 percent above the national average. Add in a housing shortage and the area’s geographical challenges, and it’s easy to see why many people rent.
Beyond the inability to buy a home, renting is preferred for many residents. Apartments offer flexibility that allows renters to easily adapt and move with life changes, like getting closer to work or school. When it’s time to move, renters don’t have to deal with selling a house, especially in a volatile market.
San Diego has a large military and defense presence, which often requires moving around. For many military personnel, it doesn’t make sense to buy a home when they need to be able to move quickly.
San Jose, CA
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Why San Jose is popular among renters
San Jose is known for Silicon Valley, which has seen a resurgence in activity due to AI. This has driven many professionals back to the area to follow the jobs. While some people own a home, most choose to rent for a variety of reasons. Like many of the other renter-heavy cities, homes are prohibitively expensive. The average home price is 270 percent higher than the national average.
Renting also fits career-oriented lifestyles better. The tech industry can be a quickly changing one, and residents often have to follow jobs around the city. Whether it’s a campus relocation or a new company, renting allows them to move where they need to.
San Francisco, CA
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Why San Francisco is popular among renters
Renters flock to San Francisco because it is a city of options, with an active lifestyle, plenty of entertainment, and countless professional opportunities. The AI boom has renewed interest, leading to a city-wide comeback. With a highly mobile tech workforce, professionals often move neighborhoods as roles change and companies move, making renting the most practical way to stay close.
Besides being a lifestyle choice, renting is the only option for many because of how challenging homeownership is in the city. Home prices are high, mortgage rates have skyrocketed, and there is a lack of single-family homes. In San Francisco, homeowners pay 158 percent more than the national average home price.
Top US Cities with the Most Homeowners
What makes a city homeowner-friendly?
Just as rent prices shape whether a city is renter-friendly, home prices play a major role in determining whether a city works well for buyers. Homeowner-friendly cities typically have lower average home prices, which makes it easier for more households to afford a down payment and monthly mortgage costs.
Housing availability matters just as much as price. Cities with a high number of single-family homes, townhomes, and surrounding suburbs tend to offer more options for buyers. When there is a steady supply of homes on the market, prices stay more stable. In contrast, limited inventory often drives prices up, even in smaller or less central cities.
Sarasota, FL
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Why Sarasota is popular among homeowners
People move to sunny Florida for the beaches, climate, and slower pace of life. This in particular attracts a lot of retirees and snowbirds who choose to buy a home. Sarasota has housing prices that are relatively affordable compared to rents and more in line with incomes, making homeownership a realistic goal. There are also plenty of homes to choose from, with new ones being built every day.
Why people choose to rent in Sarasota
Those who rent in Sarasota choose to do so because of the maintenance-free lifestyle, which is attractive to all generations. It also allows residents to live closer to the beach and Downtown Sarasota as it is primarily apartments and condos in those areas. While many snowbirds buy a home, others opt for short-term rentals to avoid the cost of owning and maintaining a property year-round when they only live there part of the year.
Grand Rapids, MI
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Why Grand Rapids is popular among homeowners
The average monthly mortgage is only a couple hundred more than the average rent in Grand Rapids, which is why many people choose to buy. It’s a growing city where more people are setting down roots as there are plenty of homes to choose from, especially first-time owner friendly ones. The stable economy and rising values are attracting many to invest in a home for the future.
Why people choose to rent in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a city where many are just starting their journey. They want the freedom to move that comes with renting, whether it’s to switch neighborhoods or cities. Renting makes more sense to them, so they aren’t locked into a city or neighborhood. For those looking to live in compact, popular areas, like Downtown Grand Rapids, apartments may be the only choice as there are fewer affordable homeownership options.
Detroit, MI
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Why Detroit is popular among homeowners
Detroit has always had a history of high homeownership and that is still true today. Low home prices make it a tangible goal for residents, and there are plenty of even cheaper options for those willing to put in a little work. There’s no shortage of options as Detroit is dominated by single-family homes. Many prefer locking in a mortgage over the fluctuations of renting. Revitalization efforts have renewed interest in the city, and many people are heading back to enjoy city life on the shores of the Detroit River.
Why people choose to rent in Detroit
Detroit is a city that is undergoing revitalization, which means that many homes are old and in need of significant repairs. To avoid these challenges, residents choose to rent so they don’t have to worry about maintenance or unexpected housing costs. In neighborhoods like City Center, Corktown, and Midtown, apartments are the bulk of the housing landscape, making them the main way to live in Detroit’s most lively downtown areas.
Pittsburgh, PA
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Why Pittsburgh is popular among homeowners
Pittsburgh stands out as one of the few major cities where average home prices fall below the national average, leading to higher levels of homeownership. The metro blends big-city life and room to spread out, backed by a steady supply of housing and continued development. A strong, diverse economy helps residents find a home in one of the city’s charmingly historic neighborhoods.
Why people choose to rent in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s large student and academic population prefers to rent, since buying a home makes little sense for people in the city on a temporary basis. Even for those permanently in the city, homes can be unattractive because they lack the modern amenities of newer apartments. Just like many of the other cities on this list, apartments are the best option in the central neighborhoods.
Birmingham, AL
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Why Birmingham is popular among homeowners
Homeownership is both culturally rooted and financially attainable in Birmingham, which has the lowest average home price on this list. Paired with a low cost of living, residents can buy without overextending themselves, choosing from a broad mix of new and older homes across a wide range of price points.
Why people choose to rent in Birmingham
Birmingham’s storied past means much of its housing stock is older, often bringing higher maintenance and repair costs that push some residents toward renting. At the same time, the city’s revival has focused on downtown, with mixed-use developments and adaptive reuse projects popping up on every corner. To live near this growth, residents typically choose apartments, as few single-family homes exist in the area and condos tend to be expensive.
Rent vs Buy Factors
Whether to rent or buy is a decision many people face, especially if they are moving from city to city. You need to consider several factors, including non-monetary ones, which could influence your decision.
Price
Home prices vary significantly depending on the city. While the cost may be close to the national average in some cities, it can cost millions in others. Many residents choose to rent because it is usually more affordable than buying. In addition to the mortgage, homeownership comes with additional expenses like upkeep, property taxes, and home insurance.
Flexibility
While homeownership is a dream for many people, some don’t like being tied to a long-term mortgage. They want the flexibility of renting because they can move or stay once their lease is up. They may want to move to follow job opportunities or experience a different lifestyle.
Amenities
Apartment communities generally offer more amenities than a house. You can enjoy a pool, gym, car wash, tennis court, and dog park all in your community. With a home, your neighborhood might not have these amenities.
Proximity
Many cities have compact downtowns full of businesses, restaurants, shopping, and more. The only way to be near all this action is to rent, as not many houses are built in city centers because they take up a lot of space. Whether you want to have a night out near your home or be able to walk to your job, apartments put you close to it all.
Lifestyle
If you want a lively lifestyle close to the action, an apartment can put you in the heart of a big city. However, if you want a quieter atmosphere with a slower pace of life, finding a house in the suburbs might be more your style.
Compare the Average Rent in the US on Apartments.com
If you have decided to rent, look at the rent trends in the US to see which cities are the most expensive or the most affordable on Apartments.com. You’ll also get the average for each of the floor plan types: studio, one bedroom, two bedrooms, and three bedrooms. Check out the cost of living in the city so you have all the information you need. Find a city that fits your budget on Apartments.com!
This article was originally published on May 22, 2025.
FAQs
What are the pros and cons of renting vs. buying an apartment?
While most rent apartments, you can buy one too, but each option has pros and cons. Renting means you don’t have to deal with ownership responsibilities, maintenance, or taxes and can enjoy the flexibility that comes with it. However, you are limited in how you customize your apartment and aren’t building equity.
What is rent-to-own?
Rent-to-own is a rental contract that gives tenants the option to buy the property they are renting before the lease term ends. It is pretty similar to standard leases but includes a predetermined price and timeline.
What are the most popular types of apartments?
There is no one particular type of apartment that is most popular, what renters care most about is the price. However, co-living has risen as this helps renters in cities with high rents live affordably. Many cities are trying to encourage office-to-residential conversions to co-living to help create more housing.
