Henry Jo

Henry Jo

Housing Analyst

Henry Jo is a housing analyst covering rent data, affordability, city comparisons, and much more. He started following rental data while apartment hunting in two cities at once, and he lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Expertise:Urban Economics

Published Articles (136)

San Francisco rent hits record $4,682 a month, requiring a $187,280 salary

San Francisco rent hits record $4,682 a month, requiring a $187,280 salary

Typical rent in San Francisco hit $4,682 in August, up 25.1% in a year. At the 30% rule that takes $187,280 a year, which is more than the m…

October 12, 2026AffordabilityCaliforniaWages
Is it worth renting in the suburbs and commuting in?

Is it worth renting in the suburbs and commuting in?

Renting in Newark and taking NJ Transit into Manhattan leaves about $1,856 a month after the train pass. Renting in Naperville and riding Me…

October 9, 2026AnalysisCommutingSuburbs
The typical renter now pays more each month than the typical homeowner

The typical renter now pays more each month than the typical homeowner

Since 2021, the typical US renter has paid more for housing each month than the typical homeowner, Census data shows. In Philadelphia the ga…

October 8, 2026AnalysisRent vs BuyCensus Data
Rent is rising in most Southern California cities after falling earlier this year

Rent is rising in most Southern California cities after falling earlier this year

Rents are rising again across Southern California, led by Orange County and the Inland Empire. Two rent trackers agree on the direction but …

October 7, 2026NewsCaliforniaRent Prices
Three in 4 people are cutting back to pay for housing

Three in 4 people are cutting back to pay for housing

Habitat for Humanity surveyed 30,758 people in 22 countries and found 3 in 4 cut back to afford housing. In the US, typical rent now takes a…

October 5, 2026NewsAffordabilityResearch
How to fight a security deposit deduction and actually get it back

How to fight a security deposit deduction and actually get it back

A questionable deposit deduction isn't the end of it. The process to challenge one is short, cheap, and tilted more toward tenants than most…

October 3, 2026TipsRenter RightsLegal
Orlando rent in 2026 takes more than 30% of the city’s median household income

Orlando rent in 2026 takes more than 30% of the city’s median household income

Orlando's rent sits close to the national typical, but local incomes are lower, so a typical apartment takes more than 30% of the median hou…

October 2, 2026Rent PricesFloridaCity Guide
A federal judge blocked New York's ban on rent-setting software, calling it a "close call"

A federal judge blocked New York's ban on rent-setting software, calling it a "close call"

New York's first-of-its-kind ban on rent-setting software is on hold after a federal judge sided with RealPage on free speech grounds. The c…

October 1, 2026NewsNew YorkRent Policy
Rent has risen faster than household income since 1990

Rent has risen faster than household income since 1990

Median rent has more than tripled since 1990 while household income less than tripled. Here's how the income-to-rent ratio changed by decade…

September 30, 2026AffordabilityRent HistoryCensus
Boston rent by zip code: Beacon Hill and Charlestown lead a broad rise

Boston rent by zip code: Beacon Hill and Charlestown lead a broad rise

Boston rent rose 3.3% over the past year, and the gains were broad. Here's typical rent in every Boston zip code, from West Roxbury's $2,842…

September 30, 2026Rent PricesMassachusettsZip Codes
Charleston rents are now nearly $500 a month higher than Savannah

Charleston rents are now nearly $500 a month higher than Savannah

Charleston and Savannah get sold as interchangeable coastal Southern cities. On rent they have stopped being comparable, and the gap widened…

September 27, 2026DataCharlestonRent Trends
National Rent Report: U.S. Rents Rose 0.3% in August 2026

National Rent Report: U.S. Rents Rose 0.3% in August 2026

The typical US rent rose about 0.3% (roughly $7) from July to August 2026 and is +2.7% year over year. San Francisco led with a +$128 monthl…

September 26, 2026DataRent ReportRent Trends
Michigan landlords must now offer a fee-free way to pay rent

Michigan landlords must now offer a fee-free way to pay rent

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bills requiring a fee-free rent payment option and allowing electronic deposit refunds. In Detroit, a 3% card f…

September 24, 2026NewsMichiganRenter Rights
The cheapest cities to rent in North Carolina, where the Triad undercuts Charlotte and Raleigh

The cheapest cities to rent in North Carolina, where the Triad undercuts Charlotte and Raleigh

Greensboro, High Point, and Fayetteville all rent for under $1,400 a month, hundreds less than Charlotte. Here are North Carolina's 15 cheap…

September 24, 2026AffordabilityNorth CarolinaRankings
Rats, no heat, and a water bill: why tenants in five Jersey City buildings stopped paying rent

Rats, no heat, and a water bill: why tenants in five Jersey City buildings stopped paying rent

Five west-side buildings are on rent strike over conditions their tenants say include rats and missing heat. In New Jersey, withholding rent…

September 22, 2026NewsNew JerseyRenter Rights
HUD narrowed assistance animal rules, and most ESA advice online is now out of date

HUD narrowed assistance animal rules, and most ESA advice online is now out of date

For years the answer to whether a landlord could charge pet rent for an emotional support animal was a clear no. At the federal level that c…

September 21, 2026TipsRenter RightsLegal
Police say rent checks were intercepted at a Georgia apartment complex, leaving tenants facing eviction

Police say rent checks were intercepted at a Georgia apartment complex, leaving tenants facing eviction

A Georgia case shows the rare scam a renter can't see coming: your rent gets paid, someone pockets it, and the eviction lands on you. The de…

September 18, 2026NewsRenter RightsScams
The 3x rent rule: what income a landlord needs to see to approve you

The 3x rent rule: what income a landlord needs to see to approve you

The 30% rule is your budget. The 3x rule is the landlord's approval gate, and it's the one that actually decides whether you get the apartme…

September 17, 2026TipsRenting BasicsBudgeting
Military renters can break a lease without penalty. Most never use the right

Military renters can break a lease without penalty. Most never use the right

Federal law gives service members a lease-termination right that overrides whatever the lease says about early exit fees. The timing rule is…

September 16, 2026TipsRenter RightsLegal
$2,000 a month gets you less than a studio in New York and a three-bedroom in San Antonio

$2,000 a month gets you less than a studio in New York and a three-bedroom in San Antonio

The same $2,000 a month buys wildly different lives depending on the city. It falls short of a studio in New York and rents an entire three-…

September 15, 2026DataAffordabilityCost of Living
Two DC landlords will pay $9.3 million over alleged rent-fixing

Two DC landlords will pay $9.3 million over alleged rent-fixing

A $9.3 million settlement over algorithmic rent-fixing sounds large until you see how much of DC's rental market ran on the same software th…

September 14, 2026NewsWashington DCRent Policy
When your landlord can walk in, and how much notice they owe you

When your landlord can walk in, and how much notice they owe you

A landlord owning the building does not mean they can come in whenever they like. Here is what notice actually requires and what to do when …

September 13, 2026TipsRenter RightsLegal
Immigrant neighborhoods are still cheaper than their cities, but the gap is shrinking

Immigrant neighborhoods are still cheaper than their cities, but the gap is shrinking

Enclave neighborhoods have long been where new arrivals could afford a foothold. Our data shows all four still cost less than their cities, …

September 12, 2026DataNeighborhoodsCulture
85% of San Francisco landlords fear application fraud as AI made faking paystubs easy

85% of San Francisco landlords fear application fraud as AI made faking paystubs easy

Rental scams usually mean a renter losing a deposit to a fake listing. This is the other direction, where AI-generated pay stubs get an unqu…

September 11, 2026NewsSan FranciscoRenter Rights
Detroit has a 22% vacancy rate and rent prices still rose 3.9%

Detroit has a 22% vacancy rate and rent prices still rose 3.9%

Vacancy sounds like it should predict rent, and it mostly does not. Detroit and New Orleans have a fifth of their homes empty and rising ren…

September 11, 2026DataMarket AnalysisRent Trends
The insurance your landlord sells you at signing often pays them, not you

The insurance your landlord sells you at signing often pays them, not you

Plenty of renters sign an insurance add-on at the leasing office and assume they are covered. Many of those policies are written to protect …

September 9, 2026TipsRenters InsuranceRenter Rights
Portland rent has risen just 20% since 2020, while most big cities ran away

Portland rent has risen just 20% since 2020, while most big cities ran away

Since 2020, Portland rent is up just 19.8% while San Diego climbed 45% and Chicago 40%. In a decade of runaway housing costs, Portland is th…

September 9, 2026DataPortlandRent Trends
How much do you need to earn to afford rent in New York?

How much do you need to earn to afford rent in New York?

We ran the standard affordability rule against nine New York neighborhoods. The cheapest one requires nearly double what the median New York…

September 7, 2026DataNew YorkAffordability
Nearly a third of Frisco renters moved within two years, these are the cities where renters move most often

Nearly a third of Frisco renters moved within two years, these are the cities where renters move most often

How often renters move is a hidden measure of a market. High churn means people can leave, low churn usually means they cannot afford to. We…

September 5, 2026DataMarket AnalysisMoving
Serial squatter sentenced to 20 years after decades of evictions across Texas and Colorado

Serial squatter sentenced to 20 years after decades of evictions across Texas and Colorado

The woman Texas prosecutors called a serial squatter got 20 years. She also passed the same tenant screening that rejects ordinary renters o…

September 4, 2026NewsRenter RightsLegal
How to get your full Security Deposit back

How to get your full Security Deposit back

Your deposit is your money, held in trust. Here is how to document the unit, avoid deductions, and get every dollar back when you move out.

September 4, 2026Renting 101GuidesTenant Rights
Gwinnett County approves $8.9 million plan with rental and down payment assistance

Gwinnett County approves $8.9 million plan with rental and down payment assistance

Gwinnett commissioners approved a HUD-funded plan covering rent help, down payments and new housing. Here is what is in it, who it reaches, …

September 1, 2026NewsAtlantaRenter Rights
Only two US cities over 60,000 people have a median rent under $1,200

Only two US cities over 60,000 people have a median rent under $1,200

A $1,200 budget used to buy a decent apartment almost anywhere. We checked every city in our data, and the answer depends entirely on whethe…

August 31, 2026DataAffordabilityMoving
Austin rent peaked four years ago and still hasn't recovered

Austin rent peaked four years ago and still hasn't recovered

Most rent coverage tracks what happened last month. A longer view shows seven big cities where rent peaked years ago and never got back, whi…

August 30, 2026DataRent TrendsNegotiation
Sag Harbor’s reported rent is $53,556 a month. Here’s why that number is misleading

Sag Harbor’s reported rent is $53,556 a month. Here’s why that number is misleading

Some of the numbers on our own site should not be read the way you would read a big-city figure. Small towns produce unstable medians, and k…

August 28, 2026DataMethodologyRent Trends
A Kentucky landlord must sell his rentals over sex-for-rent claims

A Kentucky landlord must sell his rentals over sex-for-rent claims

A landlord accused of offering rent forgiveness in exchange for sex has agreed to sell his properties and leave the business. The bigger sto…

August 27, 2026NewsRenter RightsLegal
Nantucket will pay landlords $18,000 to keep renting to locals and freeze the rent

Nantucket will pay landlords $18,000 to keep renting to locals and freeze the rent

Nantucket is trying something unusual: paying landlords who already rent year-round to keep doing it, with a rent cap attached. Run the numb…

August 26, 2026NewsHousing PolicyMassachusetts
National Rent Report: U.S. Rents Rose 0.1% in July 2026

National Rent Report: U.S. Rents Rose 0.1% in July 2026

The typical US rent rose about 0.1% (roughly $1) from June to July 2026 and is +3.5% year over year. San Francisco led with a +$138 monthly …

August 26, 2026DataRent ReportRent Trends
You may be owed money from the $360 million RealPage rent settlement. Here is how to check.

You may be owed money from the $360 million RealPage rent settlement. Here is how to check.

A $359.9 million settlement covers renters whose buildings used RealPage pricing software over a seven-year window. Checking eligibility tak…

August 25, 2026NewsRenter RightsLegal
The most and least predictable rental markets in America

The most and least predictable rental markets in America

Some rental markets are steady enough to plan around and others whipsaw. Eleven years of our data shows Tampa swinging 41% in a single year …

August 23, 2026DataRent TrendsMarket Analysis
She wanted to leave an expensive city. Then she found the “cheap” ones aren’t cheap anymore

She wanted to leave an expensive city. Then she found the “cheap” ones aren’t cheap anymore

A woman who left Seattle for Michigan says she was shocked that cheap places aren't cheap. Our data says she's right, and the reason is that…

August 22, 2026DataMovingAffordability
In 7 of 8 major metros, the top suburb now costs more to rent than the city

In 7 of 8 major metros, the top suburb now costs more to rent than the city

Renters still assume moving to the suburbs saves money. We checked eight well-known suburb and city pairs, and in seven of them the suburb i…

August 20, 2026DataSuburbsRent Trends
Chicago rent is up 55% since 2015, and the sharpest jump came this year

Chicago rent is up 55% since 2015, and the sharpest jump came this year

Chicago rent has risen 55% since 2015, from $1,552 to $2,409. Most of the pain was gradual, but the largest one-year jump of the whole stret…

August 19, 2026DataChicagoRent Trends
Getting a loan to pay rent: preference or desperation?

Getting a loan to pay rent: preference or desperation?

Pay-later lenders now finance rent, and the industry says it's meeting demand. Half of borrowers say they couldn't make ends meet otherwise,…

August 18, 2026NewsRenter FinanceAffordability
Boomers and Gen Z didn't enter the same rental market. Half of renters are now cost-burdened.

Boomers and Gen Z didn't enter the same rental market. Half of renters are now cost-burdened.

The generational complaint about rent holds up, though not for the reason most people give. The typical renter still pays about a third of i…

August 16, 2026DataAffordabilityRent Burden
College town rents are cooling as student housing floods in, but a few still climb

College town rents are cooling as student housing floods in, but a few still climb

A wave of purpose-built student housing is pulling rents down in college towns like Ann Arbor and College Station. A handful, including Stat…

August 15, 2026DataCollege TownsRent Trends
Airbnb sends Salt Lake City cease and desist over alleged fake booking accounts

Airbnb sends Salt Lake City cease and desist over alleged fake booking accounts

Airbnb accused Salt Lake City of using fake guest accounts to catch short-term rental hosts breaking a new ordinance. The fight is really ab…

August 14, 2026NewsSalt Lake CityShort-Term Rentals
Seattle bans pet rent and other rental junk fees, but not until 2027

Seattle bans pet rent and other rental junk fees, but not until 2027

Seattle's council banned pet rent, package fees and other add-on charges in an 8-0 vote. The rules don't take effect until July 1, 2027, whi…

August 12, 2026NewsSeattleRenter Rights
Houston rent looks cheap until you compare it with local incomes

Houston rent looks cheap until you compare it with local incomes

Affording the typical Houston apartment takes about $62,680 a year. The median Houston household earns $64,813, which clears the bar by a sl…

August 11, 2026DataHoustonAffordability
What You Need to Apply for an Apartment: Documents, Fees, and the Process

What You Need to Apply for an Apartment: Documents, Fees, and the Process

From photo ID and pay stubs to the 3x income rule and screening timelines, here is exactly what landlords ask for and how the application pr…

August 9, 2026Renting 101GuidesApplications
California's rent caps now run 8.1% to 8.8%, while Santa Monica caps increases at 2.6%

California's rent caps now run 8.1% to 8.8%, while Santa Monica caps increases at 2.6%

California's new rent caps took effect August 1, ranging from 8.1% to 8.8% by region. Local rules go much further, with Santa Monica limitin…

August 8, 2026NewsCaliforniaRent Control
Paying rent with a credit card can cost renters more than $700 a year

Paying rent with a credit card can cost renters more than $700 a year

Card processing fees on rent typically run 2.5% to 3%, so paying a $1,951 rent by card costs about $57 extra every month. The math only work…

August 8, 2026GuidesBudgetingRenting 101
Income rose faster than Rent in 14 large US cities

Income rose faster than Rent in 14 large US cities

Household income grew faster than rent in 14 large US cities in the latest year both datasets cover. The list is dominated by Sun Belt metro…

August 6, 2026DataAffordabilityRent Trends
Pet rent can add $800 to $1,400 to a renter’s first-year costs

Pet rent can add $800 to $1,400 to a renter’s first-year costs

Pet rent commonly runs $25 to $75 a month per animal, and a one-time deposit or fee adds $200 to $500, so the first year with a single pet o…

August 6, 2026GuidesPetsRenting 101
Rent got easier to afford in Oakland and Seattle, but worse in cheaper US cities

Rent got easier to afford in Oakland and Seattle, but worse in cheaper US cities

Of 155 large US cities, 108 saw rent take a bigger bite of local income since 2020. The ones that improved are mostly expensive coastal metr…

August 4, 2026DataAffordabilityRent Trends
City vs. Suburbs: Where Renters Actually Pay Less

City vs. Suburbs: Where Renters Actually Pay Less

Moving one town over saves about $2,003 a month near New York but only $118 near Denver. Here is where the suburb discount is real.

August 4, 2026DataAffordabilityLocation
Cleveland was Affordable until Outsiders with Bigger Budgets Moved In. Locals are Being Priced Out.

Cleveland was Affordable until Outsiders with Bigger Budgets Moved In. Locals are Being Priced Out.

Cleveland rent rose 50.8% since January 2020 against a national 33.3%, while local income grew 32%. The cheapest Rust Belt cities rose harde…

August 2, 2026DataOhioAffordability
Fair Market Rent (HUD) isn't the Market Rate, and in Phoenix it's 29% Higher

Fair Market Rent (HUD) isn't the Market Rate, and in Phoenix it's 29% Higher

In Phoenix the HUD-derived two-bedroom figure runs about 29% above actual market rent, while in New York it runs about 27% below. Here is wh…

August 2, 2026GuidesDataHousing Policy
The True Cost of Renting: Why Rent Is Only Part of Your Monthly Bill

The True Cost of Renting: Why Rent Is Only Part of Your Monthly Bill

The rent line is only the start. See how utilities, insurance, deposits, and fees turn a $1,951 rent into a $2,300-plus monthly bill and a $…

August 1, 2026DataBudgetingRenting 101
San Francisco Rent Is Up 50% From Its Pandemic Floor, Three Years After the Doom Loop Talk

San Francisco Rent Is Up 50% From Its Pandemic Floor, Three Years After the Doom Loop Talk

San Francisco rent has risen 50.2% from its pandemic floor and sits 25.1% above January 2020. Our trend model puts the city further above it…

July 31, 2026NewsSan FranciscoRent Trends
What $2,000 a Month Rents Across America: A Studio in San Francisco or a 3-Bedroom in Wichita

What $2,000 a Month Rents Across America: A Studio in San Francisco or a 3-Bedroom in Wichita

The same $2,000 budget does not cover a studio in San Francisco yet rents a three-bedroom house in Wichita. Here is what it buys across 19 U…

July 30, 2026DataAffordabilityCost of Living
A New York Studio Now Takes a $125,000 Salary, Putting a Burden on New College Grads

A New York Studio Now Takes a $125,000 Salary, Putting a Burden on New College Grads

New York City asking rents reached a seven-year high this spring. At a median studio rent of $3,116, affording one alone would take roughly …

July 28, 2026NewsNew YorkAffordability
Studio vs. One-Bedroom: Is the Upgrade Worth the Money?

Studio vs. One-Bedroom: Is the Upgrade Worth the Money?

In some cities the jump from a studio to a one-bedroom is nearly free; in others it costs hundreds a month. Here is the premium in 13 major …

July 28, 2026DataApartmentsRenting 101
Renters Insurance: What It Covers and Whether You Actually Need It

Renters Insurance: What It Covers and Whether You Actually Need It

For roughly $15 to $20 a month, renters insurance protects thousands of dollars of belongings and shields you from a liability claim. Here i…

July 26, 2026Renting 101GuidesInsurance
A California Rental Wants $200 More a Month If You Work From Home

A California Rental Wants $200 More a Month If You Work From Home

A furnished ADU in Walnut Creek, California lists for $3,250 a month, plus $200 more if you work from home. A landlord group calls it utilit…

July 24, 2026NewsCaliforniaRental Fees
What Is a Good Rent-to-Income Ratio?

What Is a Good Rent-to-Income Ratio?

The 30 percent rule is the standard rent benchmark, but it is measured against gross income and many renters in expensive metros already spe…

July 24, 2026DataAffordabilityRenting 101
National Rent Report: U.S. Rents Rose 0.4% Across the Nation in June 2026, Led by Coastal Cities

National Rent Report: U.S. Rents Rose 0.4% Across the Nation in June 2026, Led by Coastal Cities

The typical US rent rose about 0.4% (roughly $8) from May to June 2026 and is up 3.6% year over year. San Francisco led with a $148 monthly …

July 23, 2026DataRent ReportRent Trends
Rent Freezes, Caps, and Bans on Pricing Software: Will Any of It Actually Lower Rent?

Rent Freezes, Caps, and Bans on Pricing Software: Will Any of It Actually Lower Rent?

A wave of rent freezes, caps, and bans on pricing algorithms is spreading across the country. We weigh what each one actually does, and what…

July 22, 2026AnalysisRent ControlPolicy
America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes for Renters, Where Rent Tops $10,000 a Month

America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes for Renters, Where Rent Tops $10,000 a Month

The most expensive ZIP codes in the country for renters read like a map of celebrity and old-money enclaves, from Montecito to Beverly Hills…

July 22, 2026DataLuxuryZIP Codes
Virginia Renters Now Get 14 Days to Pay Late Rent Before Eviction, Up From 5

Virginia Renters Now Get 14 Days to Pay Late Rent Before Eviction, Up From 5

Virginia's House Bill 15 extends the window renters have to pay overdue rent before a landlord can start eviction from 5 days to 14. A state…

July 20, 2026NewsTenant ProtectionsVirginia
Why Every Rent Report Gives a Different Number, and Which One to Trust

Why Every Rent Report Gives a Different Number, and Which One to Trust

One city, five rent reports, five different numbers. Here is what each major source actually measures, why they disagree, and which one to t…

July 19, 2026rentrent datamethodology
Average Rent by State: From $1,206 in Iowa to $3,612 in New York

Average Rent by State: From $1,206 in Iowa to $3,612 in New York

Rent varies nearly threefold across the US. Here is the average rent in all 50 states, from the cheapest to the most expensive, with the dat…

July 18, 2026rentaverage rentrent by state
New York Landlords Will Have to Disclose AI-Altered Rental Listings Under Mamdani's "Rental Ripoff" Plan

New York Landlords Will Have to Disclose AI-Altered Rental Listings Under Mamdani's "Rental Ripoff" Plan

Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a 23-action Rental Ripoff Report shaped by testimony from 2,400 New Yorkers, requiring landlords to disclose A…

July 17, 2026NewsTenant ProtectionsNew York
New York Renters Spend Half Their Income on Rent. These States Spend the Least.

New York Renters Spend Half Their Income on Rent. These States Spend the Least.

The cheapest rent is not the most affordable rent. Ranked by the share of income that goes to rent, the most affordable states are not where…

July 17, 2026rentaffordabilityrent burden
Boston Rents Have Fallen for 13 Straight Months as New Supply Loosens the Market

Boston Rents Have Fallen for 13 Straight Months as New Supply Loosens the Market

Boston renters are catching a rare break: 13 straight months of year-over-year declines, with the average apartment down to $2,930. Here is …

July 16, 2026rentbostonmassachusetts
San Diego Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

San Diego Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

San Diego rent has quietly passed Los Angeles. Here is what a place actually costs across the city and its suburbs, how far rent has climbed…

July 15, 2026rentsan diegocalifornia
New Federal Housing Law Caps Investor Home Buying, and Institutional Investors are adjusting

New Federal Housing Law Caps Investor Home Buying, and Institutional Investors are adjusting

A sweeping new housing law bars big investors from owning more than 350 single-family homes, but carves out build-to-rent. That is about to …

July 15, 2026rentatlantabuild to rent
Indianapolis Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

Indianapolis Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

Indianapolis is one of the most affordable big cities in the country, but the numbers come with a catch. Here is what rent costs across the …

July 14, 2026rentindianapolisindiana
Manhattan and Brooklyn Rents Hit Record Highs, and the Squeeze Is Spreading to the Outer Boroughs

Manhattan and Brooklyn Rents Hit Record Highs, and the Squeeze Is Spreading to the Outer Boroughs

New York City rents set new records in June, with a Manhattan median of $5,295. The pressure is now reaching Queens and the Bronx. Here is w…

July 13, 2026rentnew yorkmanhattan
Austin Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

Austin Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

Austin was the pandemic boomtown that everyone said was overpriced. The data now tells a different story: rents have cooled hard, and the ci…

July 12, 2026rentaustintexas
Arizona Has the 3 Best Rental Markets in America, a New Study Finds. Our Data Agrees.

Arizona Has the 3 Best Rental Markets in America, a New Study Finds. Our Data Agrees.

A new WalletHub study ranks Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Chandler the top three rental markets in the country. Our Rent Reality Score data indep…

July 11, 2026rentarizonascottsdale
Sacramento Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

Sacramento Rent Prices: What the Data Shows

Sacramento became the California exit valve for priced-out Bay Area renters, and the numbers show why. Here is what rent costs in 2026, how …

July 10, 2026rentsacramentocalifornia
Half of Young Adults Still Live With Their Parents. The Rent Math Shows Why.

Half of Young Adults Still Live With Their Parents. The Rent Math Shows Why.

Nearly half of American adults under 30 now live with a parent, and moving home has shed its stigma. Our data on what it actually costs to l…

July 9, 2026rentgen zyoung adults
San Francisco Rent Tops $4,000 as the AI Hiring Boom Reheats the Bay Area

San Francisco Rent Tops $4,000 as the AI Hiring Boom Reheats the Bay Area

A resurgence in tech hiring and return-to-office mandates have pushed San Francisco rent past $4,000. Our data shows the whole Silicon Valle…

July 8, 2026rentsan franciscobay area
Massachusetts Court Throws Out Rent Control as Boston Rents Stay Among the Nation's Highest

Massachusetts Court Throws Out Rent Control as Boston Rents Stay Among the Nation's Highest

Massachusetts' top court threw out a ballot question that would have restored statewide rent control, leaving renters facing some of the cou…

July 7, 2026rentbostonmassachusetts
Seattle's Mayor Wants to Ban Rental 'Junk Fees'

Seattle's Mayor Wants to Ban Rental 'Junk Fees'

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has proposed banning surprise rental fees, listing the charges landlords may collect and prohibiting the rest. He…

July 6, 2026rentseattlejunk fees
Pennsylvania Sends $224 Million in Property Tax and Rent Rebates to 372,000 Residents

Pennsylvania Sends $224 Million in Property Tax and Rent Rebates to 372,000 Residents

Pennsylvania's Treasury sent $224.4 million in property tax and rent rebates to 372,291 residents. Here is who qualifies, the $1,000 cap, th…

July 5, 2026rentpennsylvaniarent rebate
What Salary Do You Need to Afford Rent in the Biggest US Cities?

What Salary Do You Need to Afford Rent in the Biggest US Cities?

Using June 2026 ZORI rents and the 30% rule, here is the salary you need to afford the median rent in 21 of the largest US cities, from $54,…

July 5, 2026rentsalaryaffordability
Cheapest Cities to Rent in California

Cheapest Cities to Rent in California

California has no genuinely cheap big cities. Even the cheapest, Chico at $1,607, sits right at the national median. The affordable tier hid…

July 4, 2026rentcaliforniacheapest
Can a Nurse Afford Rent in America's Biggest Cities?

Can a Nurse Afford Rent in America's Biggest Cities?

Registered nurses earn well above the median, yet in five metros their rent still crosses the federal 30 percent burden line. San Francisco …

July 3, 2026rentnurseaffordability
New York City Rent by Apartment Size

New York City Rent by Apartment Size

NYC rent in 2026 by apartment size: studio $2,625, one-bedroom $2,732, two-bedroom $3,032, three-bedroom $3,782, and four-bedroom or larger …

July 2, 2026rentnew yorknyc
Can a Police Officer Afford Rent in the City They Serve? (2026)

Can a Police Officer Afford Rent in the City They Serve? (2026)

A police officer in San Francisco spends 57.7% of pay on rent. We ran the rent-burden math for 21 major cities and found officers cross the …

July 1, 2026rentpolice officeraffordability
As Bronx Rent Prices Keep Climbing, Priced-Out Residents Look to Connecticut and New Jersey

As Bronx Rent Prices Keep Climbing, Priced-Out Residents Look to Connecticut and New Jersey

Bronx rents are up nearly 4% over the year and some longtime residents are weighing a move, according to News 12. The rent data shows where …

June 30, 2026rentbronxnew york
Richmond vs Arlington, Virginia: Rent Prices in 2026

Richmond vs Arlington, Virginia: Rent Prices in 2026

Virginia two biggest rental draws sit at opposite ends of the math. Arlington costs nearly a thousand dollars more a month, yet it can be th…

June 30, 2026rentrichmondarlington
San Francisco Rent by Apartment Size: Studio to 3-Bedroom (2026)

San Francisco Rent by Apartment Size: Studio to 3-Bedroom (2026)

San Francisco rent splits into five very different numbers, from a $2,319 studio to a $4,505 four-bedroom. Here is what each apartment size …

June 29, 2026rentsan franciscocalifornia
Rent by ZIP Code: How to Find the Real Median for Any US ZIP

Rent by ZIP Code: How to Find the Real Median for Any US ZIP

City averages are too blunt to plan a move around. Here is why ZIP-level rent data tells a truer story, what the numbers mean, and how to pu…

June 27, 2026rentrent datazip code
Chicago Rent by Apartment Size: Studio to 3-Bedroom (2026)

Chicago Rent by Apartment Size: Studio to 3-Bedroom (2026)

Chicago rent is climbing faster than almost any other big city right now. Here is what a studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom…

June 26, 2026rentchicagoillinois
Los Angeles Rent by Apartment Size: Studio, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom and Up (2026)

Los Angeles Rent by Apartment Size: Studio, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom and Up (2026)

The citywide median rent in Los Angeles hides a huge spread. Here is what a studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and larger actually cost in 20…

June 22, 2026rentlos angelescalifornia
Best Cities for Chinese-Americans to Rent in 2026

Best Cities for Chinese-Americans to Rent in 2026

Chinese-American communities cluster in a few well-defined corridors, from the San Gabriel Valley to Silicon Valley to Plano. Rent and incom…

June 21, 2026rentchinese americancommunity
Do You Need a Cosigner or Guarantor to Rent an Apartment?

Do You Need a Cosigner or Guarantor to Rent an Apartment?

A cosigner or guarantor can get you approved when your income or credit falls short, but the two are not the same thing, and the obligation …

June 18, 2026rentrentinglease
Best Cities for Mexican-Americans to Rent in 2026

Best Cities for Mexican-Americans to Rent in 2026

Mexican-Americans are the largest Hispanic group in the country, with deep-rooted communities from the Texas border to East LA to Chicago. R…

June 15, 2026rentmexican americancommunity
No Longer the Bargain? Charlotte Rent Prices in 2026

No Longer the Bargain? Charlotte Rent Prices in 2026

Charlotte rent sits at $1,727 and barely moved over the year. The Lake Norman suburbs carry a premium, Gastonia is the cheap option, and the…

June 13, 2026rentcharlottenorth carolina
Best Cities for Vietnamese-Americans to Rent

Best Cities for Vietnamese-Americans to Rent

The Vietnamese-American community is the fourth-largest Asian-American group in the United States and one of the most geographically concent…

June 12, 2026rentvietnamesevietnamese american
Cheapest Cities to Rent in Texas

Cheapest Cities to Rent in Texas

Texas is home to some of the cheapest rental markets of any major Sun Belt state, but the range is wide and the cheap cities are not all equ…

June 10, 2026renttexaskilleen
Best Cities for Indian-Americans to Rent in 2026

Best Cities for Indian-Americans to Rent in 2026

The Indian-American community is one of the most geographically concentrated of any ethnic group in the United States, clustered around a ha…

June 7, 2026rentindianindian americans
What's a Normal Rent Per Month?

What's a Normal Rent Per Month?

"Normal" rent depends entirely on where you live. Across 30 major US cities tracked by RentDataNow, the average one-bedroom rent is $1,515 a…

June 5, 2026rentrent data
Are Rent Prices Falling in the US?

Are Rent Prices Falling in the US?

The short answer is: in some cities, yes. In others, no, and in a few, rents are rising faster than they have in years. The national picture…

June 2, 2026rentrent data
Best Cities for Single Renters in 2026

Best Cities for Single Renters in 2026

The rent math for single renters is more challenging than it looks. Household income figures include dual-income couples, which inflates the…

May 29, 2026rentsinglesphoenix
Detroit Rent Looks Cheap. The Wages Tell a Different Story.

Detroit Rent Looks Cheap. The Wages Tell a Different Story.

Detroit's median rent is $1,338 a month. A one-bedroom averages $987. Compared to almost anywhere on a national rent map, those numbers look…

May 25, 2026rentdetroit
Miami Rent by Neighborhood: Where to Find Deals 2026

Miami Rent by Neighborhood: Where to Find Deals 2026

Miami's citywide median rent is $3,001 a month, but that number hides a spread from $1,610 one-bedrooms in Little Haiti to $2,990 in Brickel…

May 24, 2026miamirentflorida
How Much of Your Income Should Go to Rent?

How Much of Your Income Should Go to Rent?

The standard answer is 30%. Keep rent under 30% of your gross income and you're financially responsible. Keep it above and you're cost-burde…

May 21, 2026rentincome
Houston Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Houston Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Houston's citywide median rent is $1,541 a month, down 1.1% year over year. It's the second-largest city in Texas and one of the few major m…

May 20, 2026renthouston
Red Flags in an Apartment Listing That Should Make You Walk Away

Red Flags in an Apartment Listing That Should Make You Walk Away

Most apartment listings are written by landlords or property managers whose job is to fill a vacancy, not to give you a complete picture of …

May 17, 2026rentred flags
Los Angeles Rent Has Risen 22% in 5 Years. Here's What Else That Changed.

Los Angeles Rent Has Risen 22% in 5 Years. Here's What Else That Changed.

Between 2021 and 2026, Los Angeles got more expensive, less populated, and more educated. Median rent went from $2,250 to $2,753, up 22.4%. …

May 14, 2026rentlos angeles
Chicago Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Chicago Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Chicago's citywide median rent is $2,328 a month, up 7.43% year over year, one of the fastest-appreciating major cities in the country right…

May 13, 2026chicagorent
Phoenix Rent in 2026: How the Market has Changed Since 2021

Phoenix Rent in 2026: How the Market has Changed Since 2021

Between 2021 and 2026, Phoenix went through one of the more complete cycles any major rental market has experienced in recent memory. Rents …

May 10, 2026phoenix
San Francisco Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

San Francisco Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

San Francisco's citywide median rent is $3,958 a month, up 17.03% year over year. That's the sharpest annual increase of any major city in t…

May 9, 2026rentsan francisco
Dallas Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Dallas Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Dallas's citywide median rent is $1,606 a month, but that number hides a spread from $803 one-bedrooms in Lake Highlands to $2,470 in Highla…

May 5, 2026dallasdallas neighborhoodshighland park
Best Cities for Family Renters in 2026

Best Cities for Family Renters in 2026

Renting with a family changes the math in a few important ways. You need a two or three-bedroom, which means the studio and one-bedroom aver…

May 4, 2026rentfamilyjohns creek
Where Rent Dropped the Most in the Last Year

Where Rent Dropped the Most in the Last Year

The national rent narrative of the past year has been muddier than it sounds. Some cities have seen meaningful declines that are tangible fo…

May 1, 2026rentfalling rentaustin
Best Cities for Renters Under 30

Best Cities for Renters Under 30

Renting in your 20s involves a specific set of tradeoffs that don't show up in a standard cost-of-living calculator. You need rent low enoug…

April 30, 2026austinminneapolisraleigh
Rent vs. Income: How 7 Major Cities Changed Between 2021 and 2026

Rent vs. Income: How 7 Major Cities Changed Between 2021 and 2026

RentDataNow tracks five-year changes in median rent, median household income, population, and renter share for cities across the country. Th…

April 27, 2026rentrent dataincome
Los Angeles Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Los Angeles Rent Prices by Neighborhood in 2026

Los Angeles's citywide median rent is $2,753 a month, but that number flattens out a market where a one-bedroom in Koreatown runs $2,250 and…

April 25, 2026los angeleslacalifornia
Chicago Rent Prices in 2026

Chicago Rent Prices in 2026

Chicago's median rent hit $2,328 a month in March 2026, up 7.43% year over year. That's the sharpest annual increase of any major Midwest ci…

April 23, 2026rentchicagorent prices
Most Rent-Burdened Cities in the US: 2026 Rankings

Most Rent-Burdened Cities in the US: 2026 Rankings

The Census Bureau defines a cost-burdened household as one spending more than 30% of gross income on rent. Severely cost-burdened is 50% or …

April 21, 2026rentexpensive rentsrent burden
 Cities Where You Can Be a Baller on a Budget

Cities Where You Can Be a Baller on a Budget

Most rental content is written for people who are already losing. Tips for how to afford San Francisco. Guides on splitting a New York two-b…

April 19, 2026rentcharlotteaustin
Nashville Rent Prices in 2026: What the Data Actually Shows

Nashville Rent Prices in 2026: What the Data Actually Shows

Nashville's reputation as an affordable Sun Belt city no longer matches the data.

April 17, 2026nashvillerentrent data
New York City Rent Prices in 2026: What the Data Shows by Borough and Neighborhood

New York City Rent Prices in 2026: What the Data Shows by Borough and Neighborhood

New York City is not one rental market. It is five boroughs, hundreds of neighborhoods, and rent prices that range from $1,500 a month in pa…

April 15, 2026
The 10 Most Affordable ZIP Codes to Rent in Atlanta Right Now

The 10 Most Affordable ZIP Codes to Rent in Atlanta Right Now

Atlanta's median rent sits around $1,591 a month citywide, but that number covers a massive range. The most expensive ZIP codes in the city …

April 13, 2026rentrental dataatlanta
 Landlord Red Flags Every Renter Should Know Before Signing

Landlord Red Flags Every Renter Should Know Before Signing

Finding a good apartment takes effort. Finding a good landlord takes a different kind of attention. Here are the warning signs to take serio…

April 12, 2026landlordtenantrent
Renewing Your Lease vs. Signing Somewhere New: How to Actually Decide

Renewing Your Lease vs. Signing Somewhere New: How to Actually Decide

Renewal time is one of the highest-stakes moments in renting, and most tenants handle it passively. They wait for the landlord's notice, sca…

April 10, 2026rentrent datarent renewal
How Remote Work Changed Where Americans Rent

How Remote Work Changed Where Americans Rent

No single factor reshaped the American rental market over the past five years more than remote work. It untethered millions of people from t…

April 7, 2026remote workrentrental data
How to Write a Pet Policy in a Lease Agreement

How to Write a Pet Policy in a Lease Agreement

Pet policies are one of the most commonly disputed areas of landlord-tenant law. Tenants want clarity on what is allowed and what it will co…

April 5, 2026petsrentlandlord
How to Compare Two Cities Before You Move (Using RentDataNow's Compare Tool)

How to Compare Two Cities Before You Move (Using RentDataNow's Compare Tool)

Rent alone doesn't tell you whether a city is affordable for you. It doesn't tell you how the populations compare, what the median income lo…

April 3, 2026rentrent datacomparison
Why So Many People Are Stuck Renting Longer Than They Planned

Why So Many People Are Stuck Renting Longer Than They Planned

Most people who rent don't plan to rent forever. A survey by Apartment List found that 87 percent of Gen Z and millennial renters still cons…

March 31, 2026rentrenting
Atlanta Rent Prices in 2026: What the Data Actually Shows

Atlanta Rent Prices in 2026: What the Data Actually Shows

Atlanta rents have been moving in two directions at once depending on who you ask and what data you look at. The city-wide headline numbers …

March 29, 2026atlantarentrent prices
Henry Jo, Housing Analyst | RentDataNow