Home/Rankings/Most rent-burdened

Most rent-burdened cities

Where locals spend the largest share of household income on rent. Ranked by highest rent-to-income ratio. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Boone, NC ranks first, with rent at 90.2% of median household income.
6 of the top 10 are in Florida.
Across all 2,223 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,820/mo.
Marco Island, FL moved from #115 to #25 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

2,223 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	BooneNC Pop. 20KCompare →	90.2%	$2,259/mo	$30,065	--
02	BrownsvilleFL Pop. 17KCompare →	80.5%	$2,735/mo	$40,795	↓1 from #1
03	Sunny Isles BeachFL Pop. 22KCompare →	66.1%	$3,409/mo	$61,921	same
04	West LafayetteIN Pop. 45KCompare →	64.6%	$1,877/mo	$34,891	same
05	Laguna WoodsCA Pop. 17KCompare →	62.4%	$3,081/mo	$59,269	↑2 from #7
06	Opa-lockaFL Pop. 16KCompare →	61.7%	$1,931/mo	$37,532	↓1 from #5
07	New YorkNY Pop. 8.5MCompare →	61.0%	$4,089/mo	$80,483	↑1 from #8
08	GladeviewFL Pop. 17KCompare →	59.6%	$2,356/mo	$47,469	↓6 from #2
09	Dania BeachFL Pop. 32KCompare →	58.4%	$2,566/mo	$52,748	↓3 from #6
10	MiamiFL Pop. 460KCompare →	57.0%	$2,965/mo	$62,462	↓1 from #9
11	WestmontCA Pop. 34KCompare →	55.4%	$2,333/mo	$50,509	same
12	SweetwaterFL Pop. 20KCompare →	54.0%	$2,475/mo	$54,967	↑1 from #13
13	State CollegePA Pop. 41KCompare →	53.4%	$2,022/mo	$45,424	↑2 from #15
14	Atlantic CityNJ Pop. 39KCompare →	53.0%	$1,812/mo	$41,028	same
15	CamdenNJ Pop. 71KCompare →	52.9%	$1,787/mo	$40,546	↓3 from #12
16	West Little RiverFL Pop. 34KCompare →	52.1%	$2,452/mo	$56,436	--
17	New BrunswickNJ Pop. 56KCompare →	51.4%	$2,820/mo	$65,810	↑3 from #20
18	WatsonvilleCA Pop. 52KCompare →	51.0%	$3,332/mo	$78,393	↓2 from #16
19	Rancho MirageCA Pop. 18KCompare →	50.9%	$4,556/mo	$107,364	same
20	HialeahFL Pop. 226KCompare →	50.6%	$2,343/mo	$55,594	↓2 from #18
21	IthacaNY Pop. 33KCompare →	50.1%	$2,038/mo	$48,784	↑4 from #25
22	Hialeah GardensFL Pop. 23KCompare →	50.0%	$2,726/mo	$65,439	↓1 from #21
23	Lauderdale LakesFL Pop. 36KCompare →	49.8%	$2,077/mo	$50,006	↓1 from #22
24	Fort PierceFL Pop. 49KCompare →	49.7%	$1,951/mo	$47,072	↓1 from #23
25	Marco IslandFL Pop. 16KCompare →	49.6%	$4,199/mo	$101,523	↑90 from #115
26	Perth AmboyNJ Pop. 56KCompare →	49.2%	$2,540/mo	$61,977	--
27	Key WestFL Pop. 26KCompare →	49.1%	$3,563/mo	$87,037	↓17 from #10
28	NewarkNJ Pop. 310KCompare →	48.7%	$2,111/mo	$52,060	↓2 from #26
29	MarreroLA Pop. 33KCompare →	48.6%	$1,678/mo	$41,402	↓12 from #17
30	Deerfield BeachFL Pop. 88KCompare →	48.6%	$2,418/mo	$59,730	↓2 from #28
31	East LansingMI Pop. 46KCompare →	48.5%	$1,847/mo	$45,687	↑1 from #32
32	BinghamtonNY Pop. 47KCompare →	48.4%	$1,838/mo	$45,578	↑4 from #36
33	San Luis ObispoCA Pop. 48KCompare →	48.3%	$2,968/mo	$73,685	↓4 from #29
34	Glen CoveNY Pop. 28KCompare →	48.3%	$3,702/mo	$92,064	↑9 from #43
35	DoltonIL Pop. 21KCompare →	48.2%	$2,327/mo	$57,887	↓11 from #24
36	LakewoodNJ Pop. 70KCompare →	48.2%	$2,288/mo	$56,968	--
37	Riviera BeachFL Pop. 39KCompare →	47.9%	$2,716/mo	$68,060	↓2 from #35
38	MonroeGA Pop. 16KCompare →	47.8%	$1,777/mo	$44,656	↓8 from #30
39	Miami GardensFL Pop. 113KCompare →	47.5%	$2,521/mo	$63,627	↓1 from #38
40	KentOH Pop. 27KCompare →	47.5%	$1,702/mo	$42,964	↑9 from #49
41	LawrenceMA Pop. 89KCompare →	47.1%	$2,372/mo	$60,433	↓8 from #33
42	BrunswickGA Pop. 15KCompare →	46.7%	$1,568/mo	$40,288	↓8 from #34
43	TrentonNJ Pop. 90KCompare →	46.4%	$2,030/mo	$52,537	↓12 from #31
44	Desert Hot SpringsCA Pop. 33KCompare →	46.4%	$2,038/mo	$52,761	↑2 from #46
45	OjusFL Pop. 19KCompare →	46.2%	$2,645/mo	$68,644	↓18 from #27
46	Lake Worth BeachFL Pop. 43KCompare →	46.2%	$2,357/mo	$61,200	↑1 from #47
47	BurlingtonVT Pop. 45KCompare →	46.2%	$2,738/mo	$71,109	↓10 from #37
48	RustonLA Pop. 22KCompare →	46.2%	$1,198/mo	$31,120	↑8 from #56
49	Laguna BeachCA Pop. 23KCompare →	46.0%	$5,519/mo	$143,843	↑9 from #58
50	North Miami BeachFL Pop. 44KCompare →	46.0%	$2,425/mo	$63,280	↓11 from #39