Rents in the United States hit a record high in April, according to real estate listing site Realtor.com, with rents rising 16.7% compared to the previous year. In contrast, over the previous five years, gross rents increased by 18.1%.
Rising housing costs have put a serious squeeze on the millions of Americans, typically younger ones, who already cannot afford to own a home. Many of those who are already being affected by inflation are likely looking to live in places with more affordable rentals.
To determine the ZIP codes with the lowest rent, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median gross rent from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. The median gross rent across the United States is $1,096, and in these 50 ZIP codes, it ranges from $480 to as low as $291.
Kentucky has the most ZIP codes of the 50 on this list,, with eight, followed by Texas and Mississippi, with five each. Almost two-thirds of these ZIP codes are in the South.
The vast majority of the places on this list have a lower typical home value than the U.S. median of $229,800. This includes ZIP 43604, which is home to downtown Toledo, Ohio, where the typical home is worth $31,300. This is the income you need to be in the top 1% in every state.
Broadly speaking, housing costs reflect the income levels of the population living there. Housing costs tend to be more expensive in wealthier communities, while places with high levels of poverty tend to have cheaper housing. The 50 ZIP codes on the list are some of the poorest parts of the country. All but one have lower median household incomes compared to the national figure of $5,416. In ZIP 44503, which comprises the majority of downtown Youngstown, Ohio, the typical monthly household income is $751. This is the poorest town in every state.
But even when accounting for these lower incomes, most of the ZIP codes are more affordable than much of the country. Nationwide, the annual median gross rent is equivalent to 29.6% of household income. In 38 of the 50 ZIP codes on this list, median rent accounts for a smaller share of income. These are the states with the lowest and highest rent.
Click here to see zip codes with the lowest rent
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. 76442
> Location: Comanche, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $480
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.0% — 2,912th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.5% — 916th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $115,000 — 2,063rd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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49. 54520
> Location: Crandon, Wisconsin
> Median monthly rental cost: $479
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.2% — 959th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.3% — 4,567th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $125,300 — 2,586th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
48. 62701
> Location: Springfield, Illinois
> Median monthly rental cost: $477
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.2% — 367th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 95.7% — 85th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: N/A
47. 85941
> Location: Whiteriver, Arizona
> Median monthly rental cost: $477
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 15.6% — 27th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Rental occupied housing units: 43.2% — 3,260th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $63,000 — 202nd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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46. 38852
> Location: Iuka, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $476
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.6% — 3,617th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 25.9% — 3,639th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $106,600 — 1,668th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
45. 48658
> Location: Standish, Michigan
> Median monthly rental cost: $476
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.2% — 3,066th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.5% — 3,154th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $81,700 — 631st lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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44. 37869
> Location: Sneedville, Tennessee
> Median monthly rental cost: $473
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.2% — 959th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 27.2% — 4,127th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $102,900 — 1,510th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
43. 42635
> Location: Pine Knot, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $471
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.7% — 4,537th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 46.3% — 2,717th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $91,300 — 1,036th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
42. 74965
> Location: Westville, Oklahoma
> Median monthly rental cost: $471
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.3% — 250th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 33.1% — 5,874th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $98,100 — 1,311th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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41. 38860
> Location: Okolona, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $470
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.0% — 4,127th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.7% — 4,725th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $69,500 — 316th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
40. 42717
> Location: Burkesville, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $467
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.2% — 959th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.3% — 4,555th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $110,100 — 1,830th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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39. 57555
> Location: Mission, South Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $466
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.7% — 283rd lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 46.0% — 2,759th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $38,000 — 23rd lowest of 12,109 zip codes
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38. 49938
> Location: Ironwood, Michigan
> Median monthly rental cost: $465
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.0% — 2,191st lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 27.4% — 4,206th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $68,100 — 282nd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
37. 24273
> Location: Norton, Virginia
> Median monthly rental cost: $464
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.5% — 3,706th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 41.1% — 3,668th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $74,700 — 430th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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36. 65793
> Location: Willow Springs, Missouri
> Median monthly rental cost: $463
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.3% — 2,393rd lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.7% — 4,709th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $99,400 — 1,374th lowest of 12,109 zip codes
35. 74523
> Location: Antlers, Oklahoma
> Median monthly rental cost: $461
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.8% — 5,807th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.6% — 5,459th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $77,900 — 516th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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34. 41301
> Location: Campton, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $454
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 33.1% — 2,516th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 35.5% — 5,094th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $67,900 — 279th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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33. 40831
> Location: Harlan, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $452
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.4% — 4,633rd highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 45.1% — 2,913th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $73,100 — 386th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
32. 62274
> Location: Pinckneyville, Illinois
> Median monthly rental cost: $449
> Share of income typically spent on rent: greater than 50.0% — the highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 25.2% — 3,398th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $83,100 — 685th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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31. 43604
> Location: Toledo, Ohio
> Median monthly rental cost: $448
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.3% — 4,702nd highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 82.4% — 263rd highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $31,300 — 8th lowest of 12,109 zip codes
30. 85540
> Location: Morenci, Arizona
> Median monthly rental cost: $447
> Share of income typically spent on rent: less than 10.0% — the lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% — the highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Median home value: N/A
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29. 39169
> Location: Tchula, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $445
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 14.5% — 16th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Rental occupied housing units: 59.0% — 1,260th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $52,900 — 98th lowest of 12,109 zip codes
28. 35592
> Location: Vernon, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $442
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 38.4% — 648th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 38.7% — 4,232nd highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $108,000 — 1,735th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
27. 79901
> Location: El Paso, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $441
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 34.2% — 1,895th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 91.2% — 130th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $55,600 — 117th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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26. 78538
> Location: Edcouch, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $441
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.0% — 6,024th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.6% — 3,193rd lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $68,300 — 284th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
25. 41179
> Location: Vanceburg, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $441
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.3% — 4,095th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 25.3% — 3,438th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $69,900 — 323rd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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24. 35582
> Location: Red Bay, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $439
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.9% — 309th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.7% — 4,699th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Median home value: $84,300 — 733rd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
23. 42629
> Location: Jamestown, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $436
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.5% — 1,782nd lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.6% — 2,810th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $121,200 — 2,369th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
22. 44707
> Location: Canton, Ohio
> Median monthly rental cost: $434
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.2% — 959th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 50.3% — 2,137th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $88,200 — 917th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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21. 40823
> Location: Cumberland, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $432
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.7% — 3,497th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 40.7% — 3,750th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $59,600 — 159th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
20. 65084
> Location: Versailles, Missouri
> Median monthly rental cost: $429
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.4% — 1,055th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 32.1% — 6,004th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $128,800 — 2,745th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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19. 39069
> Location: Fayette, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $418
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 38.3% — 663rd highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 35.3% — 5,152nd highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $65,700 — 242nd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
18. 37762
> Location: Jellico, Tennessee
> Median monthly rental cost: $415
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.7% — 1,217th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 46.5% — 2,680th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $85,300 — 768th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
17. 45232
> Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
> Median monthly rental cost: $413
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.3% — 1,638th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 81.1% — 287th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $96,500 — 1,244th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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16. 86023
> Location: Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
> Median monthly rental cost: $404
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 13.5% — 9th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Rental occupied housing units: 82.7% — 255th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $32,400 — 11th lowest of 12,109 zip codes
15. 59417
> Location: North Browning, Montana
> Median monthly rental cost: $401
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.0% — 223rd lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 45.8% — 2,788th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $87,500 — 884th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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14. 75941
> Location: Diboll, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $396
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.6% — 1,849th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.4% — 2,423rd lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $87,700 — 892nd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
13. 58316
> Location: Belcourt, North Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $388
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 17.0% — 45th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.2% — 5,320th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $84,200 — 730th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
12. 79845
> Location: Presidio, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $387
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.6% — 1,849th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 57.1% — 1,402nd highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $50,400 — 80th lowest of 12,109 zip codes
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11. 16501
> Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
> Median monthly rental cost: $386
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 37.3% — 863rd highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.8% — 57th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: N/A
10. 36251
> Location: Ashland, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $378
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.5% — 2,540th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.5% — 4,652nd lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $112,400 — 1,930th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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9. 37915
> Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
> Median monthly rental cost: $362
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.4% — 5,579th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 80.9% — 293rd highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $163,600 — 4,510th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
8. 37402
> Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
> Median monthly rental cost: $354
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.0% — 2,912th lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 90.2% — 146th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $237,600 — 4,926th highest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
7. 35740
> Location: Bridgeport, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $338
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.0% — 332nd lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 34.1% — 5,537th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $104,200 — 1,560th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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6. 85550
> Location: San Carlos, Arizona
> Median monthly rental cost: $320
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 10.6% — 6th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Rental occupied housing units: 46.8% — 2,628th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $52,100 — 88th lowest of 12,109 zip codes
5. 41314
> Location: Booneville, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $319
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.2% — 5,121st lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 34.4% — 5,440th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $62,200 — 191st lowest of 12,109 zip codes
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4. 39328
> Location: De Kalb, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $314
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 22.1% — 551st lowest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 31.8% — 5,893rd lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $73,700 — 402nd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
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3. 59521
> Location: Rocky Boy West, Montana
> Median monthly rental cost: $308
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 15.4% — 25th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Rental occupied housing units: 57.0% — 1,412th highest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $79,600 — 564th lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
2. 44503
> Location: Youngstown, Ohio
> Median monthly rental cost: $304
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 33.8% — 2,086th highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% — the highest of 12,186 zip codes (tied)
> Median home value: N/A
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1. 24244
> Location: Duffield, Virginia
> Median monthly rental cost: $291
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 12.3% — 8th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.2% — 4,528th lowest of 12,186 zip codes
> Median home value: $92,900 — 1,092nd lowest of 12,109 zip codes (tied)
Methodology
To determine the ZIP codes with the lowest rent, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median gross rent from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used ZIP code tabulation areas — a census geography type that defines a real representation of United States Postal Service ZIP codes (USPS ZIP codes do not define geographic boundaries but instead are a network of mail delivery routes in a service area). We refer to Census ZCTAs as ZIP codes.
ZIP codes were excluded if median gross rent was not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 500 renter-occupied housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a ZIP code’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a ZIP code’s median gross rent was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all ZIP codes’ median gross rents. We similarly excluded ZIP codes that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
ZIP codes were ranked based on the median gross rent. To break ties, we used the median gross rent as a share of household income.
Additional information on median gross rent as a share of household income, share of households occupied by renters, and median home value are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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