The US National Rent Report
Median US asking rent is $1,718. Every figure is the raw number from 180,739 live apartment listings across 12,893 properties in 1205 cities, not a smoothed index.
The prices behind this report refresh every morning; the November 2026 dateline anchors this monthly edition for citation. The numbers below show what apartments list for, before any model or survey averages them out. Half of tracked units list below the $1,718 line and half above; two out of three fall between $1,369 and $2,290.
Live data snapshot
Based on 180,739 units in 1205 cities across 50 states and Washington, DC, as of November 8, 2026.
The most expensive and cheapest markets right now
High Point, NC is the most expensive market in this edition at $1,001,339, while Davenport, IA is the cheapest at $792. That is a 1264.3x gap in a single month. Each market links to its full rent-trend page.
10 cheapest markets
Minimum 3 tracked properties per city. Tap any city for its full rent trends page.
- 1 Davenport, IA $792
- 2 Albany, GA $857
- 3 Bossier City, LA $877
- 4 Fort Smith, AR $895
- 5 Midwest City, OK $896
- 6 Decatur, AL $912
- 7 Amarillo, TX $913
- 8 Fargo, ND $917
- 9 Metairie, LA $967
- 10 Gary, IN $978
10 most expensive markets
Minimum 3 tracked properties per city. Tap any city for its full rent trends page.
- 1 High Point, NC $1,001,339
- 2 Rochester, MN $770,838
- 3 Spokane, WA $663,944
- 4 Wichita, KS $445,583
- 5 Lawrence, KS $183,629
- 6 Auburn, WA $103,155
- 7 Waco, TX $50,963
- 8 Boone, IA $17,653
- 9 Newark, NJ $14,644
- 10 Nashville, TN $11,110
State-by-state medians
Across 50 states and Washington, DC with live coverage, the spread runs wider than the national figure shows. Every row links to a state-level rent-trend page.
Median rent by state
Highest median first. States with 50+ tracked properties. Select a state for local rent trends.
| State | Median | P25 to P75 | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts 279 properties 3,099 units | $2,990 | $2,543–$3,588 | 279 | 3,099 |
| New Jersey 162 properties 1,706 units | $2,950 | $2,411–$4,080 | 162 | 1,706 |
| California 1,788 properties 16,564 units | $2,757 | $2,325–$3,335 | 1,788 | 16,564 |
| Connecticut 135 properties 1,405 units | $2,549 | $2,095–$3,053 | 135 | 1,405 |
| New York 298 properties 2,062 units | $2,295 | $1,720–$3,625 | 298 | 2,062 |
| Virginia 270 properties 3,612 units | $2,215 | $1,799–$2,682 | 270 | 3,612 |
| Illinois 256 properties 2,769 units | $2,135 | $1,765–$2,597 | 256 | 2,769 |
| Washington 318 properties 3,401 units | $2,113 | $1,720–$2,728 | 318 | 3,401 |
| Florida 764 properties 12,508 units | $2,008 | $1,635–$2,535 | 764 | 12,508 |
| Maryland 125 properties 2,158 units | $1,995 | $1,700–$2,333 | 125 | 2,158 |
| South Carolina 92 properties 1,742 units | $1,944 | $1,633–$2,350 | 92 | 1,742 |
| Colorado 320 properties 5,355 units | $1,880 | $1,613–$2,296 | 320 | 5,355 |
| Pennsylvania 96 properties 1,007 units | $1,832 | $1,650–$2,220 | 96 | 1,007 |
| Minnesota 247 properties 2,628 units | $1,813 | $1,544–$2,235 | 247 | 2,628 |
| Wisconsin 111 properties 1,036 units | $1,797 | $1,510–$2,445 | 111 | 1,036 |
| Oregon 189 properties 1,723 units | $1,778 | $1,565–$2,043 | 189 | 1,723 |
| Georgia 508 properties 9,015 units | $1,752 | $1,474–$2,155 | 508 | 9,015 |
| Tennessee 282 properties 5,257 units | $1,725 | $1,450–$2,175 | 282 | 5,257 |
| Idaho 68 properties 483 units | $1,720 | $1,612–$1,898 | 68 | 483 |
| Nevada 83 properties 1,234 units | $1,651 | $1,465–$1,902 | 83 | 1,234 |
| Ohio 210 properties 2,832 units | $1,650 | $1,311–$2,044 | 210 | 2,832 |
| Arizona 360 properties 5,461 units | $1,642 | $1,375–$1,937 | 360 | 5,461 |
| Utah 231 properties 2,449 units | $1,640 | $1,425–$2,035 | 231 | 2,449 |
| North Carolina 440 properties 8,380 units | $1,599 | $1,376–$1,924 | 440 | 8,380 |
| Missouri 162 properties 1,930 units | $1,522 | $1,337–$1,895 | 162 | 1,930 |
| Indiana 172 properties 2,676 units | $1,517 | $1,279–$1,855 | 172 | 2,676 |
| Michigan 245 properties 2,255 units | $1,517 | $1,215–$1,825 | 245 | 2,255 |
| Texas 3,376 properties 63,721 units | $1,458 | $1,200–$1,799 | 3,376 | 63,721 |
| Arkansas 85 properties 1,135 units | $1,449 | $1,165–$1,765 | 85 | 1,135 |
| New Mexico 199 properties 2,259 units | $1,400 | $1,193–$1,710 | 199 | 2,259 |
| Kansas 96 properties 942 units | $1,355 | $1,109–$1,820 | 96 | 942 |
| Kentucky 58 properties 789 units | $1,338 | $1,070–$1,539 | 58 | 789 |
| Louisiana 87 properties 639 units | $1,330 | $995–$1,700 | 87 | 639 |
| Alabama 158 properties 1,712 units | $1,287 | $1,080–$1,569 | 158 | 1,712 |
| Oklahoma 137 properties 1,107 units | $1,279 | $1,089–$1,524 | 137 | 1,107 |
| Mississippi 58 properties 477 units | $1,277 | $1,099–$1,439 | 58 | 477 |
| Iowa 141 properties 819 units | $1,145 | $945–$1,392 | 141 | 819 |
14 additional states are below the 50-property threshold today. More states and data coming as coverage expands.
The full price distribution
A single national average flattens that spread. The histogram below bins every live listing into $500-wide price bands. The mean of $3,780 sits above the median of $1,718 because a luxury tail pulls the average up.
Where the market actually sits
The biggest bucket is $1,400 to $2,000, holding 37.8% of 180,739 tracked units.
| Price band | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 10,718 | 5.9% |
| $1,000 to $1,400 | 38,865 | 21.5% |
| $1,400 to $2,000 | 68,300 | 37.8% |
| $2,000 to $3,000 | 44,751 | 24.8% |
| $3,000 to $4,000 | 12,310 | 6.8% |
| $4,000 to $5,000 | 3,326 | 1.8% |
| $5,000 and up | 2,469 | 1.4% |
Rent by bedroom count
Median asking rent broken out by studio, one, two, and three bedrooms, the number most renters budget against.
Rent by bedroom count
Quartiles show where the middle 50% of each bedroom bucket lives. A wide P25 to P75 spread means the market is bimodal, value plus luxury, rather than clustered around one number.
Each bar spans the 25th to 75th percentile (the middle 50% of rents); the dot marks the median.
| Size | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,269 | $1,536 | $1,962 | 11,970 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,274 | $1,570 | $2,000 | 81,108 |
| 2 bedroom | $1,496 | $1,891 | $2,544 | 70,362 |
| 3 bedroom | $1,690 | $2,110 | $2,799 | 13,345 |
| 4+ bedroom | $1,314 | $1,999 | $2,778 | 1,016 |
Monthly rent by building
We give each building one recorded median per month. The building sample changes as coverage grows. This history differs from the current listing median above. Coverage changes can move the line without a rent change.
Monthly median by building
We use each building’s last recorded median for the month. Each building counts once.
Median of building medians · Sample changes each month
Latest building median: $1,670 · 11,344 buildings
We track different buildings each month. Coverage changes can move this line without a rent change. The page headline measures individual listings.
The last point covers the current month to date.
View monthly prices and building counts
| Month | Median | Buildings |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | $1,778 | 104 |
| Apr 26 | $1,863 | 1,103 |
| May 26 | $1,775 | 3,651 |
| Jun 26 | $1,761 | 6,200 |
| Jul 26 | $1,749 | 8,966 |
| Aug 26 | $1,750 | 9,224 |
| Sep 26 | $1,722 | 10,098 |
| Oct 26 | $1,675 | 12,348 |
| Nov 26* | $1,670 | 11,344 |
Against Zillow ZORI and RentCafe
Our live-listing median next to the most recent public figures from Zillow's ZORI and RentCafe's national average. Each gap comes from how that source builds its number.
Live rents vs. rent indexes
180,739 live listings. Index snapshots: March 2026.
| US rent | Livemedian | ZillowZORI | RentCafe | Gap vs ZORI | Gap vs RentCafe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All bedsUS median asking rent (all beds) | $1,718 | $2,054 -16.4% gap | $1,845 -6.9% gap | -16.4% | -6.9% |
| 1 bedUS median, 1-bedroom | $1,570 | n/a | $1,721 -8.8% gap | — | -8.8% |
| 2 bedsUS median, 2-bedroom | $1,891 | n/a | $2,072 -8.7% gap | — | -8.7% |
Live medians and published indexes measure different samples. Gaps compare our median with each index.
About these numbers
- All beds: Our figure is the median of current listings. ZORI is a modeled index. RentCafe reports an average.
- 1 bed: The checked Zillow national snapshot does not list a separate one-bedroom figure.
- 2 beds: The checked Zillow national snapshot does not list a separate two-bedroom figure.
Index figures last checked against Zillow's public research page and RentCafe's national rent chart on the dates above. Their trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The rent-to-income reality check
Median asking rent joined to Census median household income, by city. Rows in rose are markets where the typical household exceeds the federal 30% cost-burdened threshold to rent the typical apartment.
Rent-to-income reality check
Annual rent divided by Census median household income for the same city. The federal cost-burdened threshold is 30%. Shaded rows are over.
| City | Avg rent | Annual rent | Median income | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $11,110 | $133,320 | $75,197 | 177.3% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $8,850 | $106,200 | $65,604 | 161.9% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,102 | $37,224 | $80,366 | 46.3% |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,951 | $23,412 | $62,917 | 37.2% |
| Houston, TX | $1,924 | $23,088 | $62,894 | 36.7% |
| Columbus, OH | $1,787 | $21,444 | $65,327 | 32.8% |
| Atlanta, GA | $2,159 | $25,908 | $81,938 | 31.6% |
| Charlotte, NC | $1,991 | $23,892 | $78,438 | 30.5% |
| Seattle, WA | $3,013 | $36,156 | $121,984 | 29.6% |
| Denver, CO | $2,058 | $24,696 | $91,681 | 26.9% |
| Dallas, TX | $1,512 | $18,144 | $67,760 | 26.8% |
| Denton, TX | $1,552 | $18,624 | $73,719 | 25.3% |
| Alexandria, VA | $2,369 | $28,428 | $113,638 | 25.0% |
| Irving, TX | $1,590 | $19,080 | $79,641 | 24.0% |
| Addison, TX | $1,648 | $19,776 | $82,858 | 23.9% |
| Austin, TX | $1,776 | $21,312 | $91,461 | 23.3% |
| Garland, TX | $1,444 | $17,328 | $74,717 | 23.2% |
| Lewisville, TX | $1,638 | $19,656 | $85,002 | 23.1% |
| Arlington, TX | $1,403 | $16,836 | $73,519 | 22.9% |
| Cary, NC | $1,913 | $22,956 | $129,399 | 17.7% |
How the dataset is growing
New buildings by month
Apartment buildings added to the site each month, by the month their page went live.
Buildings tracked
12,892
Nov 2026 is the month to date.
| Month | Buildings added |
|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 121 |
| Apr 2026 | 1501 |
| May 2026 | 3232 |
| Jun 2026 | 2705 |
| Jul 2026 | 1815 |
| Aug 2026 | 278 |
| Sep 2026 | 886 |
| Oct 2026 | 2211 |
| Nov 2026 | 143 |
Newest cities with 5+ buildings
- Bedford, TX 9 buildings, since Oct 22
- Spring Valley, CA 6 buildings, since Oct 17
- El Cerrito, CA 6 buildings, since Oct 14
- Watertown, MA 5 buildings, since Oct 13
- Coppell, TX 5 buildings, since Oct 7
- Stafford, TX 15 buildings, since Oct 4
How we compute this
How we calculate this, and why it differs from Zillow and RentCafe
Every number on this page comes from a live asking price we collected from an apartment community's own leasing website, the same page a prospective tenant would see. We do not apply a statistical model. We do not survey landlords. We publish what is on the market right now, refreshed every morning.
Today that means 180,739 individual units across 12,893 properties in 1205 cities, including studios to 4+ bedrooms.
Zillow's ZORI is a model, not a listing
The Zillow Observed Rent Index estimates the typical rent for the middle of the market in a given region, using a statistical model that weights repeat rentals across Zillow's listing database. It is useful for long-horizon macro comparisons. It is not a count of actual listed units. A ZORI figure reflects Zillow's estimate of the market, not the raw asking prices available to rent today.
Historical building prices use a separate sample
We select each approved building’s last recorded median for each month, then calculate the median across those buildings. Each building counts once. New buildings and changes in available apartments can move this result. We do not use this changing sample to publish national rent growth or a forecast.
NMHC Quick Facts is the industry-size citation, not a rent figure
The National Multifamily Housing Council's Quick Facts page is the gold-standard reference for the size of the apartment industry: roughly 23.4 million apartment homes in 5+ unit buildings nationwide, around 39.1 million apartment renters, and a national vacancy rate updated quarterly. Those are the right numbers for industry-scale framing. They are not asking-rent figures, and they update on an annual or quarterly cadence rather than daily. We pair the NMHC totals with our live-listing coverage on a dedicated page so the seam between the two is explicit. Cite NMHC for the universe; cite us for the live asking price inside it.
What you get here instead
- The raw distribution: 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile asking rents. Indices collapse this to one number.
- Bedroom-by-bedroom quartiles so you can see what a studio actually rents for versus a 2 bedroom.
- Live city rankings, not metro-level aggregates that hide intra-market variance.
- Monthly building medians with building counts and a separate label for the current month to date.
- A compute date for the current listing summary.
Zillow, ZORI, and RentCafe are trademarks of their respective owners. This comparison is offered as methodology context. Ratings refer to public methodology documentation as of April 2026.
Republish a chart or the headline number
Journalists, bloggers, and researchers are free to reference this report with attribution. Drop the live national-rent widget into any page with the snippet below, or visit the press and data kit for more embeds, downloadable charts, and topline statistics. The full US rent trends page, the interactive map, and every research report carry the underlying detail.