Most affordable cities for renters in America
US cities ranked by lowest median rent. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Researched market data, updated monthly.
Key findings
- Ponca City, OK ranks first, with a median rent of $665/mo.
- Across all 2,247 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,822/mo.
- Kirksville, MO moved from #34 to #9 compared with a year ago.
Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
2,247 cities
| Rank | City | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Ponca CityOK | $665/mo | +2.8% | -- | 14.3% | ↑1 from #2 |
| 02 | CarbondaleIL | $673/mo | +4.2% | -- | 25.1% | ↓1 from #1 |
| 03 | EmporiaKS | $718/mo | -1.6% | -- | 16.3% | same |
| 04 | SteubenvilleOH | $719/mo | 0.0% | -- | 17.9% | -- |
| 05 | CharlestonIL | $762/mo | 0.0% | -- | 18.5% | -- |
| 06 | LogansportIN | $795/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.2% | -- |
| 07 | Fort DodgeIA | $804/mo | +9.5% | -- | 15.9% | ↓3 from #4 |
| 08 | HutchinsonKS | $805/mo | +5.1% | +37.6% | 16.5% | ↓3 from #5 |
| 09 | KirksvilleMO | $808/mo | -14.8% | -- | 19.4% | ↑25 from #34 |
| 10 | WheelingWV | $817/mo | +2.5% | -- | 20.2% | ↓3 from #7 |
| 11 | RollaMO | $829/mo | +4.4% | -- | 21.5% | ↓5 from #6 |
| 12 | WeirtonWV | $831/mo | +1.0% | -- | 16.7% | ↓2 from #10 |
| 13 | MansfieldOH | $852/mo | +4.9% | -- | 23.0% | ↓4 from #9 |
| 14 | New CastleIN | $854/mo | +5.7% | -- | 19.9% | ↓6 from #8 |
| 15 | AllianceOH | $869/mo | 0.0% | -- | 18.6% | -- |
| 16 | GadsdenAL | $882/mo | 0.0% | -- | 26.2% | -- |
| 17 | DanvilleIL | $883/mo | +1.9% | -- | 23.1% | ↓1 from #16 |
| 18 | East PeoriaIL | $885/mo | 0.0% | -- | 14.8% | -- |
| 19 | RichmondIN | $894/mo | +4.7% | -- | 23.6% | ↓7 from #12 |
| 20 | RussellvilleAR | $895/mo | +4.2% | -- | 21.1% | ↓7 from #13 |
| 21 | JohnstownPA | $896/mo | +3.1% | -- | 28.4% | ↓4 from #17 |
| 22 | PittsburgKS | $899/mo | +3.9% | -- | 24.8% | ↓7 from #15 |
| 23 | PekinIL | $901/mo | 0.0% | -- | 17.8% | -- |
| 24 | WaterlooIA | $909/mo | +5.5% | +30.4% | 19.0% | ↓10 from #14 |
| 25 | AnnistonAL | $909/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.4% | -- |
| 26 | FlintMI | $927/mo | +6.1% | +33.0% | 29.5% | ↓8 from #18 |
| 27 | New CastlePA | $931/mo | +11.4% | -- | 26.5% | ↓16 from #11 |
| 28 | Rock IslandIL | $932/mo | +6.2% | -- | 18.9% | ↓9 from #19 |
| 29 | RadcliffKY | $934/mo | +1.5% | -- | 19.1% | ↓5 from #24 |
| 30 | FrankfortIN | $939/mo | 0.0% | -- | 19.6% | -- |
| 31 | Cape GirardeauMO | $944/mo | +4.9% | -- | 20.4% | ↓10 from #21 |
| 32 | NewtonIA | $947/mo | 0.0% | -- | 19.7% | -- |
| 33 | DuncanOK | $948/mo | 0.0% | -- | 19.6% | -- |
| 34 | WausauWI | $954/mo | +5.5% | -- | 17.8% | ↓11 from #23 |
| 35 | AshlandOH | $960/mo | +4.3% | -- | 19.2% | ↓10 from #25 |
| 36 | DavenportIA | $965/mo | +4.4% | +21.2% | 17.5% | ↓10 from #26 |
| 37 | Bay CityMI | $968/mo | +3.0% | -- | 23.5% | ↓7 from #30 |
| 38 | LebanonMO | $981/mo | 0.0% | -- | 24.3% | -- |
| 39 | BurlingtonIA | $983/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.0% | -- |
| 40 | AlbanyGA | $985/mo | +4.2% | +31.2% | 25.0% | ↓8 from #32 |
| 41 | WashingtonIL | $988/mo | 0.0% | -- | 12.5% | -- |
| 42 | GlasgowKY | $988/mo | 0.0% | -- | 27.5% | -- |
| 43 | FrankfortKY | $989/mo | +0.4% | +35.3% | 22.4% | ↑6 from #49 |
| 44 | Terre HauteIN | $993/mo | +3.0% | +29.6% | 27.6% | ↓6 from #38 |
| 45 | WarrenOH | $998/mo | +6.6% | -- | 31.6% | ↓16 from #29 |
| 46 | StephenvilleTX | $1,000/mo | +2.6% | -- | 22.6% | ↓1 from #45 |
| 47 | AltonIL | $1,003/mo | +6.0% | -- | 22.1% | ↓14 from #33 |
| 48 | Jefferson CityMO | $1,005/mo | +5.8% | -- | 18.2% | ↓13 from #35 |
| 49 | NewtonKS | $1,007/mo | +8.4% | -- | 17.5% | ↓22 from #27 |
| 50 | HuntingtonWV | $1,018/mo | +5.5% | +30.3% | 27.1% | ↓10 from #40 |