Studies & Reports
Original rent-market research from the RentDataNow Data Team. Every study includes the underlying numbers, methodology, and sources so readers can verify or extend the analysis.
A $50,000 salary covers typical rent in only 3 of the 100 largest US cities
Under the 30% rule, $50,000 a year covers typical rent in Laredo, Toledo, and Wichita and nowhere else among the 100 largest US cities. It takes $80,000 to clear the bar in 71 of them.
January is the cheapest month to rent in most big US cities
Asking rents bottom out between December and February in 94 of the 100 largest US cities and peak in summer. The gap averages 1.7%, but in New York it comes to $1,584 over a year-long lease.
In 37 of the 100 largest US cities, the typical household can't afford the typical rent
The salary needed to rent the typical home at 30% of income ranges from $45,120 in Toledo to $187,280 in San Francisco. In 37 of the 100 largest cities, the median household earns less.
Rent has outpaced inflation in 9 of 10 US cities since 2016
US consumer prices rose 40.9% between January 2016 and July 2026. Asking rent in the median city rose 68.4%. A ranking of 706 cities against inflation over the same span.
The US cities with the widest rent gap between ZIP codes
New York's expensive ZIP codes rent for twice its cheap ones. Oakland's rent for 18 percent more. A ranking of 86 US cities by internal rent spread, using ZIP-level ZORI for July 2026.
Minimum Wage vs. Rent: How Many Workers It Takes to Afford a One-Bedroom in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities
Across the 50 largest US cities, no full-time minimum wage job covers a one-bedroom at 30% of income. In Atlanta, it would take 5 minimum wage earners to afford a single unit.
US cities where a teacher can't afford rent, ranked
A typical elementary school teacher in San Francisco, CA would spend +62.2% of income on the median rent — the steepest of any large US city, and rent-burdened in 198 cities nationwide.
The most and least expensive ZIP codes to rent in America
ZIP code 81611 in Aspen, CO is the most expensive in America at $18,041/month — about 26× the cheapest US ZIP, 65613 in Bolivar, MO.
How much rent has risen in 5 years: every major US city ranked
Rent in Miami Gardens, FL jumped +54.6% over the past five years — the largest increase of any large US city, versus a +28.0% typical rise nationwide.
The most undervalued and overheated US rental markets
Cape Coral, FL is America's most undervalued rental market, renting 21% below its 10-year trend, while Cedar Rapids, IA is the most overheated.
The most rent-burdened cities in America
In New York, NY, the typical renter spends +58.6% of household income on rent — among the highest rent burdens of any large US city.
US cities where rent is rising the fastest
Abilene, TX leads US rent growth at +30.8% year-over-year, fueled by tight housing supply and continued in-migration.
US cities where rent is dropping the fastest
Ann Arbor, MI leads US rent declines at -9.2% year-over-year — a sign that the post-2022 multifamily construction wave is finally reaching renters.
The most expensive US cities to rent in, ranked
San Francisco, CA is the most expensive large US city to rent in at $4,101/month, 116% above the national median.
The cheapest US cities to rent in, ranked
Davenport, IA is the most affordable large US city to rent in at $952/month, 50% below the national median.