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Data Desk.

Data-backed takes on how rent moves across the US. Rent trends, explained with actual numbers.

Articles — Page 2 of 7

210 total
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 dominat

Henry Jo·
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

Henry Jo·
San Diego’s rent cap fell to 8.2%, but landlords can still raise rent by $249 a month

San Diego’s rent cap fell to 8.2%, but landlords can still raise rent by $249 a month

San Diego County's cap on rent increases fell from 8.8% to 8.2% on August 1. On a typical San Diego rent, 8.2% works out

Jennifer Han·
How Much Does Rent Go Up Each Year? What Counts as a Normal Increase

How Much Does Rent Go Up Each Year? What Counts as a Normal Increase

Most renters see a single-digit increase at renewal. Here is what counts as a normal annual rent hike, using RentDataNow

Jennifer Han·
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 ex

Henry Jo·
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 discou

Henry Jo·
San Francisco Landlords are Paying Tenants $50,000 to Leave

San Francisco Landlords are Paying Tenants $50,000 to Leave

San Francisco rent buyouts are back to pre-pandemic levels, with a median payout near $50,000. Against a citywide median

Jennifer Han·
Paying Rent on Time Does Nothing for Your Credit Unless Someone Reports It

Paying Rent on Time Does Nothing for Your Credit Unless Someone Reports It

Years of on-time rent can still leave you with a thin credit file, because most landlords never report payments to the c

Jennifer Han·
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 Be

Henry Jo·
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 2

Henry Jo·
LA's Rent Cap Is Rising to 8.7%

LA's Rent Cap Is Rising to 8.7%

California's statewide rent cap climbs to 8.7% in Los Angeles and Orange counties on August 1. Our data shows rents acro

Jennifer Han·
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

Henry Jo·
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 c

Henry Jo·
Rent Isn't Deductible on Your Federal Return, but Some States Pay Renters Back

Rent Isn't Deductible on Your Federal Return, but Some States Pay Renters Back

There's no federal deduction for the rent you pay on your own home, though a number of states run renter credits and reb

Jennifer Han·
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

Henry Jo·
Philadelphia Renter Sues Landlord For Using Banned Rent Price-Setting Algorithm

Philadelphia Renter Sues Landlord For Using Banned Rent Price-Setting Algorithm

Yiyao Liu filed a class-action suit against Willow Bridge Property Co. and RealPage, claiming his landlord used rent-set

Jennifer Han·
The Best Time of Year to Rent an Apartment, From Our Rent Data

The Best Time of Year to Rent an Apartment, From Our Rent Data

The pace of rent increases is smallest in late fall and winter and fastest in spring, which makes October through Januar

Jennifer Han·
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

Henry Jo·
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

Henry Jo·
San Antonio Landlord Offers Teachers a Year of Free Rent for 3 Hours of Tutoring a Week

San Antonio Landlord Offers Teachers a Year of Free Rent for 3 Hours of Tutoring a Week

American Landmark is offering San Antonio educators a year of free rent, valued near $12,000, in exchange for three hour

Jennifer Han·
Splitting Rent With a Roommate: How Much You Save in Every Big City

Splitting Rent With a Roommate: How Much You Save in Every Big City

Renting a one-bedroom solo is expensive. Splitting a two-bedroom with a roommate saves $700 to $1,200 a month in the pri

Jennifer Han·
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 lia

Henry Jo·
Rent Is Falling, but It Still Costs Far More Than Before the Pandemic

Rent Is Falling, but It Still Costs Far More Than Before the Pandemic

Rent is falling in many cities, but zoom out and the typical US rent is still about 36% above its January 2020 level. Ev

Jennifer Han·
Scammers Are Cloning Real Rental Listings on TikTok and Charging Fake Application Fees

Scammers Are Cloning Real Rental Listings on TikTok and Charging Fake Application Fees

Scammers are copying legitimate rental listings, photos and all, and reposting them on TikTok at deep discounts to colle

Jennifer Han·
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 g

Henry Jo·
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 expensiv

Henry Jo·
What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent an Apartment?

What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent an Apartment?

Many landlords look for a score around 620 to 670 or higher, but income, rental history, and a few smart moves matter ju

Jennifer Han·
Nearly 1 in 5 Residents Would Consider Leaving Texas Over Housing Costs

Nearly 1 in 5 Residents Would Consider Leaving Texas Over Housing Costs

A Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers survey found nearly one in five Texans would consider leaving the st

Jennifer Han·
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

Henry Jo·
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 act

Henry Jo·

About the RentDataNow Blog

The RentDataNow blog is your go-to resource for understanding the U.S. rental market. Our data analysts and housing experts publish regular articles covering rent price trends, city-by-city cost comparisons, and actionable advice for renters and landlords.

Every article is backed by real data from our comprehensive rent database, which tracks median rents across thousands of cities and ZIP codes nationwide. Whether you're researching a new city to move to, tracking how rents are changing in your area, or looking for data to inform your next lease negotiation, our blog has you covered.