Most expensive cities for renters in America
US cities ranked by highest median rent. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Researched market data, updated monthly.
Key findings
- Scarsdale, NY ranks first, with a median rent of $7,500/mo.
- 6 of the top 10 are in California.
- Across all 2,247 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,822/mo.
- San Francisco, CA moved from #30 to #13 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 | ScarsdaleNY | $7,500/mo | 0.0% | -- | 36.0% | -- |
| 02 | Los AltosCA | $6,886/mo | +19.3% | +43.7% | 33.1% | same |
| 03 | Manhattan BeachCA | $6,406/mo | +9.8% | +39.3% | 37.6% | ↓2 from #1 |
| 04 | Garden CityNY | $6,343/mo | 0.0% | -- | 31.2% | -- |
| 05 | SaratogaCA | $6,140/mo | +7.8% | +30.0% | 29.5% | ↓2 from #3 |
| 06 | RyeNY | $6,117/mo | 0.0% | -- | 30.6% | -- |
| 07 | Laguna BeachCA | $5,519/mo | +7.0% | +34.6% | 46.0% | ↓3 from #4 |
| 08 | ParklandFL | $5,258/mo | +4.5% | -- | 31.8% | ↓3 from #5 |
| 09 | OrindaCA | $5,239/mo | 0.0% | -- | 25.1% | -- |
| 10 | CoronadoCA | $5,122/mo | +2.0% | +36.6% | 45.7% | ↓4 from #6 |
| 11 | Great FallsVA | $4,911/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.6% | -- |
| 12 | PlainviewNY | $4,902/mo | 0.0% | -- | 31.0% | -- |
| 13 | San FranciscoCA | $4,784/mo | +26.3% | +47.1% | 40.7% | ↑17 from #30 |
| 14 | Palo AltoCA | $4,558/mo | +10.0% | +28.4% | 23.7% | ↓2 from #12 |
| 15 | Rancho MirageCA | $4,556/mo | +1.5% | -- | 50.9% | ↓8 from #7 |
| 16 | CalabasasCA | $4,552/mo | +5.3% | +20.0% | 33.0% | ↓8 from #8 |
| 17 | Mountain ViewCA | $4,535/mo | +10.2% | +26.9% | 28.7% | ↓4 from #13 |
| 18 | Rancho Palos VerdesCA | $4,522/mo | +5.5% | +24.9% | 30.2% | ↓9 from #9 |
| 19 | Foster CityCA | $4,450/mo | +12.1% | +32.7% | 26.8% | ↓1 from #18 |
| 20 | PotomacMD | $4,426/mo | +3.7% | -- | 22.4% | ↓10 from #10 |
| 21 | Newport BeachCA | $4,364/mo | +7.8% | +32.2% | 33.4% | ↓5 from #16 |
| 22 | Port WashingtonNY | $4,354/mo | 0.0% | -- | 30.7% | -- |
| 23 | EncinitasCA | $4,340/mo | +5.8% | +36.0% | 32.1% | ↓9 from #14 |
| 24 | University ParkTX | $4,326/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.8% | -- |
| 25 | DanvilleCA | $4,324/mo | +3.3% | +16.2% | 22.3% | ↓14 from #11 |
| 26 | Dana PointCA | $4,323/mo | +6.3% | +32.3% | 36.7% | ↓11 from #15 |
| 27 | CupertinoCA | $4,307/mo | +9.0% | +30.1% | 22.0% | ↓7 from #20 |
| 28 | Redwood CityCA | $4,301/mo | +9.3% | +25.0% | 32.7% | ↓5 from #23 |
| 29 | Menlo ParkCA | $4,277/mo | +10.8% | +32.0% | 24.4% | ↓4 from #25 |
| 30 | East Palo AltoCA | $4,250/mo | 0.0% | -- | 44.9% | -- |
| 31 | San CarlosCA | $4,248/mo | +7.7% | +28.4% | 21.5% | ↓10 from #21 |
| 32 | Marco IslandFL | $4,199/mo | +25.8% | -- | 49.6% | ↑42 from #74 |
| 33 | San Juan CapistranoCA | $4,164/mo | +8.6% | -- | 38.6% | ↓6 from #27 |
| 34 | South San FranciscoCA | $4,141/mo | +19.2% | +32.4% | 36.4% | ↑24 from #58 |
| 35 | BurlingameCA | $4,119/mo | +13.6% | +31.8% | 28.4% | ↑7 from #42 |
| 36 | Agoura HillsCA | $4,107/mo | +3.9% | -- | 28.8% | ↓17 from #19 |
| 37 | New YorkNY | $4,089/mo | +5.3% | +36.9% | 61.0% | ↓13 from #24 |
| 38 | MillbraeCA | $4,081/mo | +18.5% | +34.2% | 30.0% | ↑23 from #61 |
| 39 | HicksvilleNY | $4,058/mo | +1.2% | -- | 33.7% | ↓22 from #17 |
| 40 | TruckeeCA | $4,044/mo | +7.0% | -- | 37.2% | ↓8 from #32 |
| 41 | WellesleyMA | $4,030/mo | +7.8% | -- | 19.3% | ↓7 from #34 |
| 42 | Beverly HillsCA | $4,016/mo | +5.5% | +30.6% | 36.2% | ↓14 from #28 |
| 43 | HobokenNJ | $4,005/mo | +4.0% | +35.8% | 26.6% | ↓17 from #26 |
| 44 | Los GatosCA | $4,004/mo | +7.9% | +30.3% | 22.1% | ↓8 from #36 |
| 45 | SunnyvaleCA | $3,972/mo | +10.4% | +30.1% | 25.6% | ↓2 from #43 |
| 46 | Hermosa BeachCA | $3,970/mo | +9.0% | +36.2% | 28.6% | ↓5 from #41 |
| 47 | NovatoCA | $3,969/mo | +4.8% | +22.6% | 41.2% | ↓18 from #29 |
| 48 | San MateoCA | $3,968/mo | +10.7% | +28.7% | 31.0% | ↓3 from #45 |
| 49 | Santa ClaraCA | $3,958/mo | +8.2% | +29.7% | 26.5% | ↓10 from #39 |
| 50 | Lake ForestIL | $3,952/mo | 0.0% | -- | 20.2% | -- |