A little over one-third of U.S. households live in rented homes. While many associate homeownership with economic stability, renting is often a safer choice, granting more flexibility. In addition, in cities across much of the country, for a large share of residents, particularly young ones, renting is the only financially feasible choice.
To determine the towns with the highest rental rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by renters from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. We defined towns as census places having at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people.
Nationwide, 35.6% of housing units are rental properties. Among the 50 cities on this list, that figure ranges from 90.8% to an estimated 100% of housing units. California has the most towns on this list, with eight, followed by Hawaii with five and Virginia with four.
According to the census, 23.2% of Americans are 18-34 years old. This age group accounts for a larger share of the population in all of the places on this list, and in the majority, for more than half the population. In the University of California-Davis census designated place, an unincorporated area home to the college campus of the same name, 93.9% of residents are 18-39. These are the colleges with the largest increase in applicants.
Population density is a factor in the share of housing units that are occupied by renters. In highly urban areas, a large share of residents live in multi-story rental buildings, rather than single-family homes. The U.S. population density is 93 people per square mile. Nearly all of the places on this list have higher population density, and half have the equivalent of at least 1,000 people per square mile.
This includes two places, Isla Vista, California, and Kaser, New York, which fall among the top five towns in the country in population per square mile. These are the nine cities with more than 20 million people.
Click here to see American towns where the most people rent their homes
To determine the towns with the highest rental rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by renters from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used census “place” geographies — a category that includes incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people.
Towns were ranked based on the percentage of housing units that are occupied by renters.
Additional information on median rental cost, median home value, and median household income are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
50. Clarkston, Georgia
> Rental occupied housing units: 90.8%
> Median rental cost: $1,034 — 3,491st highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $40,105 — 1,436th lowest of 8,763 towns
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49. Glendale, Colorado
> Rental occupied housing units: 90.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,428 — 1,629th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $60,573 — 4,161st highest of 8,763 towns
48. Marlborough, Missouri
> Rental occupied housing units: 93.0%
> Median rental cost: $850 — 3,642nd lowest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $44,375 — 2,170th lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
47. Nellis AFB, Nevada
> Rental occupied housing units: 94.7%
> Median rental cost: $1,626 — 1,079th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $64,507 — 3,691st highest of 8,763 towns (tied)
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46. Bethel Manor, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 94.7%
> Median rental cost: $1,713 — 880th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $61,614 — 4,031st highest of 8,763 towns
45. Marina del Rey, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 95.7%
> Median rental cost: $3,066 — 57th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $120,437 — 626th highest of 8,763 towns
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44. Kaser, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 95.9%
> Median rental cost: $961 — 4,002nd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $23,030 — 55th lowest of 8,763 towns
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43. Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
> Rental occupied housing units: 96.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,399 — 1,731st highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $61,645 — 4,027th highest of 8,763 towns
42. Fort Meade, Maryland
> Rental occupied housing units: 97.6%
> Median rental cost: $2,148 — 331st highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $80,438 — 2,218th highest of 8,763 towns
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41. Fort Hood, Texas
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,210 — 2,457th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $45,417 — 2,324th lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
40. Fort Drum, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,380 — 1,806th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $50,202 — 3,140th lowest of 8,763 towns
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39. Fort Belvoir, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.3%
> Median rental cost: $2,758 — 99th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $84,189 — 1,974th highest of 8,763 towns
38. Fort Riley, Kansas
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.3%
> Median rental cost: $1,143 — 2,802nd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $43,445 — 2,012th lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
37. New Orleans Station, Louisiana
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,491 — 1,419th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $66,023 — 3,528th highest of 8,763 towns
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36. Fort Lewis, Washington
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,754 — 798th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $42,985 — 1,935th lowest of 8,763 towns
35. Bangor Base, Washington
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,783 — 748th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $66,736 — 3,432nd highest of 8,763 towns
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34. Fort Lee, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,691 — 925th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $68,942 — 3,197th highest of 8,763 towns
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33. Minot AFB, North Dakota
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,497 — 1,395th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $63,839 — 3,771st highest of 8,763 towns
32. Isla Vista, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,662 — 998th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $21,018 — 24th lowest of 8,763 towns
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31. Fort Campbell North, Kentucky
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.2%
> Median rental cost: $1,233 — 2,355th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $40,151 — 1,445th lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
30. Quantico Base, Virginia
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.3%
> Median rental cost: $1,888 — 575th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $60,682 — 4,152nd highest of 8,763 towns (tied)
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29. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.3%
> Median rental cost: $1,251 — 2,287th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $58,598 — 4,367th lowest of 8,763 towns
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28. Kaneohe Base, Hawaii
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.3%
> Median rental cost: $3,027 — 62nd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $60,169 — 4,207th highest of 8,763 towns
27. Fort Rucker, Alabama
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,176 — 2,623rd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $61,769 — 4,011th highest of 8,763 towns
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26. Fort Knox, Kentucky
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.4%
> Median rental cost: $1,046 — 3,421st highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $63,119 — 3,851st highest of 8,763 towns
25. Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.4%
> Median rental cost: $2,803 — 90th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $62,183 — 3,955th highest of 8,763 towns
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24. West Point, New York
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.5%
> Median rental cost: $3,096 — 52nd highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $115,565 — 707th highest of 8,763 towns
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23. Eielson AFB, Alaska
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.5%
> Median rental cost: $1,948 — 496th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $71,622 — 2,944th highest of 8,763 towns
22. Scott AFB, Illinois
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,458 — 1,528th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $71,679 — 2,940th highest of 8,763 towns
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21. University of California-Davis, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,386 — 1,777th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $21,230 — 28th lowest of 8,763 towns
20. Fort Carson, Colorado
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.6%
> Median rental cost: $1,687 — 932nd highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $52,144 — 3,467th lowest of 8,763 towns
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19. Fort Polk South, Louisiana
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.8%
> Median rental cost: $1,019 — 3,589th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $50,878 — 3,249th lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
18. Fort Dix, New Jersey
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.9%
> Median rental cost: $2,098 — 365th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $85,296 — 1,903rd highest of 8,763 towns
17. Fort Irwin, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.9%
> Median rental cost: $1,362 — 1,870th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $55,986 — 4,022nd lowest of 8,763 towns
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16. Helemano, Hawaii
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,454 — 174th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $71,368 — 2,968th highest of 8,763 towns
15. Fort Polk North, Louisiana
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $990 — 3,768th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $35,615 — 855th lowest of 8,763 towns
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14. Camp Pendleton Mainside, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,452 — 176th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $48,750 — 2,880th lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
24/7 Wall St.13. North Fort Lewis, Washington
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,911 — 544th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $50,726 — 3,224th lowest of 8,763 towns
12. Malmstrom AFB, Montana
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $996 — 3,719th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $51,967 — 3,435th lowest of 8,763 towns
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11. Vandenberg AFB, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,069 — 388th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $67,917 — 3,309th highest of 8,763 towns
10. Holloman AFB, New Mexico
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,113 — 2,993rd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $47,838 — 2,719th lowest of 8,763 towns
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9. Iroquois Point, Hawaii
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,912 — 76th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $97,921 — 1,277th highest of 8,763 towns
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8. Dover Base Housing, Delaware
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,664 — 992nd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $50,445 — 3,172nd lowest of 8,763 towns (tied)
7. McGuire AFB, New Jersey
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,067 — 391st highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $76,957 — 2,467th highest of 8,763 towns
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6. Lemoore Station, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,472 — 1,474th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $57,593 — 4,232nd lowest of 8,763 towns
5. Offutt AFB, Nebraska
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,320 — 2,013th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $61,602 — 4,034th highest of 8,763 towns
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4. Fort Bliss, Texas
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,402 — 1,722nd highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $54,159 — 3,760th lowest of 8,763 towns
3. Fort Stewart, Georgia
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $1,287 — 2,144th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $45,341 — 2,317th lowest of 8,763 towns
2. Hickam Housing, Hawaii
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $3,251 — 39th highest of 8,667 towns
> Median household income: $81,136 — 2,157th highest of 8,763 towns
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1. Camp Pendleton South, California
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0%
> Median rental cost: $2,452 — 176th highest of 8,667 towns (tied)
> Median household income: $51,960 — 3,433rd lowest of 8,763 towns
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