Most overheated rental markets in America

Name: Most Overheated Rental Markets in America by Rent Reality Score
Creator: RentDataNow

US cities renting furthest above their own 10-year trend, ranked by RentDataNow's Rent Reality Score. Cities with 15,000+ residents, high-confidence trends only. Updated monthly.

Key findings

South San Francisco, CA ranks first, with a Rent Reality Score of 15.
9 of the top 10 are in California.
Across all 1,683 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,856/mo.

Data as of September 2026. RentDataNow's Rent Reality Score compares each city's current rent with its own 10-year trend. High-confidence trends only. 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

1,683 cities

Rank	City	Score	Median rent	Vs. trend	1-yr change
01	South San FranciscoCA Pop. 64KCompare →	15	$4,141/mo	+17.7%	+19.2%
02	Los AltosCA Pop. 31KCompare →	18	$6,886/mo	+16.1%	+19.3%
03	Cedar RapidsIA Pop. 137KCompare →	21	$1,274/mo	+14.5%	+14.4%
04	Menlo ParkCA Pop. 33KCompare →	22	$4,277/mo	+13.9%	+10.8%
05	BurlingameCA Pop. 31KCompare →	22	$4,119/mo	+14.2%	+13.6%
06	Palo AltoCA Pop. 67KCompare →	23	$4,558/mo	+13.6%	+10.0%
07	BelmontCA Pop. 27KCompare →	23	$3,798/mo	+13.6%	+12.4%
08	MillbraeCA Pop. 23KCompare →	23	$4,081/mo	+13.4%	+18.5%
09	San MateoCA Pop. 103KCompare →	24	$3,968/mo	+13.0%	+10.7%
10	Foster CityCA Pop. 33KCompare →	24	$4,450/mo	+13.1%	+12.1%
11	SunnyvaleCA Pop. 154KCompare →	25	$3,972/mo	+12.4%	+10.4%
12	Mountain ViewCA Pop. 84KCompare →	25	$4,535/mo	+12.4%	+10.2%
13	San BrunoCA Pop. 42KCompare →	26	$3,346/mo	+11.8%	+10.1%
14	PacificaCA Pop. 37KCompare →	27	$3,594/mo	+11.4%	+9.9%
15	Redwood CityCA Pop. 82KCompare →	28	$4,301/mo	+11.1%	+9.3%
16	CupertinoCA Pop. 59KCompare →	29	$4,307/mo	+10.4%	+9.0%
17	Daly CityCA Pop. 102KCompare →	30	$3,046/mo	+10.2%	+11.0%
18	ManhattanKS Pop. 54KCompare →	30	$1,315/mo	+9.8%	+5.3%
19	San CarlosCA Pop. 30KCompare →	30	$4,248/mo	+9.9%	+7.7%
20	CollinsvilleIL Pop. 24KCompare →	31	$1,161/mo	+9.7%	+19.8%
21	Santa ClaraCA Pop. 130KCompare →	32	$3,958/mo	+8.9%	+8.2%
22	MuskogeeOK Pop. 37KCompare →	33	$1,031/mo	+8.5%	+9.7%
23	ChicagoIL Pop. 2.7MCompare →	34	$2,311/mo	+8.0%	+5.8%
24	RidgelandMS Pop. 25KCompare →	34	$1,445/mo	+7.8%	+14.2%
25	SulphurLA Pop. 21KCompare →	34	$1,287/mo	+8.1%	+11.4%
26	LakewayTX Pop. 19KCompare →	34	$2,603/mo	+8.2%	+5.0%
27	MilpitasCA Pop. 79KCompare →	35	$3,614/mo	+7.5%	+10.1%
28	Iowa CityIA Pop. 76KCompare →	35	$1,713/mo	+7.3%	+9.1%
29	MonroeLA Pop. 47KCompare →	35	$1,216/mo	+7.5%	+7.2%
30	Rowland HeightsCA Pop. 46KCompare →	35	$2,421/mo	+7.3%	+17.7%
31	Los GatosCA Pop. 33KCompare →	35	$4,004/mo	+7.3%	+7.9%
32	Mount PleasantMI Pop. 21KCompare →	36	$1,123/mo	+6.8%	0.0%
33	New YorkNY Pop. 8.5MCompare →	37	$4,089/mo	+6.4%	+5.3%
34	San JoseCA Pop. 990KCompare →	37	$3,582/mo	+6.5%	+7.7%
35	JolietIL Pop. 150KCompare →	37	$1,675/mo	+6.3%	+6.3%
36	Oak ParkIL Pop. 53KCompare →	37	$2,044/mo	+6.5%	+5.3%
37	San Juan CapistranoCA Pop. 35KCompare →	37	$4,164/mo	+6.5%	+8.6%
38	ShreveportLA Pop. 181KCompare →	38	$1,149/mo	+5.9%	+6.0%
39	CampbellCA Pop. 43KCompare →	38	$3,433/mo	+5.8%	+7.7%
40	Junction CityKS Pop. 22KCompare →	38	$1,132/mo	+5.9%	+0.9%
41	AnchorageAK Pop. 289KCompare →	39	$1,845/mo	+5.7%	+3.9%
42	ColumbiaMO Pop. 129KCompare →	39	$1,464/mo	+5.7%	+5.8%
43	Bossier CityLA Pop. 63KCompare →	39	$1,538/mo	+5.4%	+7.7%
44	HobokenNJ Pop. 59KCompare →	39	$4,005/mo	+5.5%	+4.0%
45	MarionIA Pop. 42KCompare →	39	$1,287/mo	+5.6%	+11.9%
46	UrbanaIL Pop. 39KCompare →	39	$1,348/mo	+5.6%	+5.6%
47	EagleID Pop. 33KCompare →	39	$2,200/mo	+5.7%	+10.1%
48	MililaniHI Pop. 28KCompare →	39	$2,903/mo	+5.5%	+5.7%
49	RockfordIL Pop. 148KCompare →	40	$1,227/mo	+5.2%	+7.3%
50	ChampaignIL Pop. 90KCompare →	40	$1,466/mo	+4.8%	+4.9%