Special Report

The Town With the Highest Rental Rate, in Every State

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For the first time in the nation’s history, median monthly rents in the United States crossed the $2,000 mark. According to a report from real estate listing site Redfin, the median rent on all apartments listed nationwide rose 15% compared to a year ago. For those millions of Americans who do not have the stability afforded to them through homeownership, rising rent will take a serious financial toll. 

Nationwide, 35.6% of housing units are occupied by renters. In every state, there is at least one town with a higher rental rate. 

To determine the town with the highest rental rate in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by renters in U.S. cities from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. Towns are defined as having populations of between 1,000 people and 25,000.

A great many of the places on this list are unincorporated census designated places on military bases. This is likely due to the often transient nature of armed service and because bases likely do not offer homes for sale. Soldiers often get different assignments during their enlistment, which typically only lasts a few years. This is the American city where the most people are in the military. 

A number of other towns on this list encompass large housing developments that contain a great many rental units. Others are places with, or near, a college or university, where students rent off-campus housing. This is the hardest college to get into in every state

Click here to see the towns with the highest rental rate in every state.

Click here to see our detailed methodology.

Alabama: Fort Rucker
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.4% (Alabama: 30.8%)
> Median rental cost: $1,176 (Alabama: $811)
> Median home value: N/A (Alabama: $149,600)
> Median household income: $61,769 (Alabama: $52,035)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 177

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my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Alaska: Eielson AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.5% (Alaska: 35.2%)
> Median rental cost: $1,948 (Alaska: $1,240)
> Median home value: N/A (Alaska: $275,600)
> Median household income: $71,622 (Alaska: $77,790)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 44

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

Arizona: Clifton
> Rental occupied housing units: 74.8% (Arizona: 34.7%)
> Median rental cost: $479 (Arizona: $1,097)
> Median home value: $71,000 (Arizona: $242,000)
> Median household income: $67,127 (Arizona: $61,529)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 108

raksyBH / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Arkansas: Little Flock
> Rental occupied housing units: 66.4% (Arkansas: 34.2%)
> Median rental cost: $643 (Arkansas: $760)
> Median home value: $262,700 (Arkansas: $133,600)
> Median household income: $43,490 (Arkansas: $49,475)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 123

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Althom / iStock via Getty Images

California: Camp Pendleton South
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (California: 44.7%)
> Median rental cost: $2,452 (California: $1,586)
> Median home value: N/A (California: $538,500)
> Median household income: $51,960 (California: $78,672)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 543

Chmiel / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Colorado: Fort Carson
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.6% (Colorado: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $1,687 (Colorado: $1,335)
> Median home value: N/A (Colorado: $369,900)
> Median household income: $52,144 (Colorado: $75,231)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 123

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Connecticut: Conning Towers Nautilus Park
> Rental occupied housing units: 79.3% (Connecticut: 33.9%)
> Median rental cost: $1,701 (Connecticut: $1,201)
> Median home value: $211,800 (Connecticut: $279,700)
> Median household income: $65,514 (Connecticut: $79,855)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 88

Courtesy of Dover Family Housing via Facebook

Delaware: Dover Base Housing
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Delaware: 28.6%)
> Median rental cost: $1,664 (Delaware: $1,150)
> Median home value: N/A (Delaware: $258,300)
> Median household income: $50,445 (Delaware: $69,110)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 35

Florida: Pine Manor
> Rental occupied housing units: 84.5% (Florida: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $930 (Florida: $1,218)
> Median home value: $124,600 (Florida: $232,000)
> Median household income: $25,362 (Florida: $57,703)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 485

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Georgia: Fort Stewart
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Georgia: 36.0%)
> Median rental cost: $1,287 (Georgia: $1,042)
> Median home value: N/A (Georgia: $190,200)
> Median household income: $45,341 (Georgia: $61,224)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 221

Bob Goodwin/ U.S. Navy photo

Hawaii: Hickam Housing
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Hawaii: 39.7%)
> Median rental cost: $3,251 (Hawaii: $1,651)
> Median home value: N/A (Hawaii: $636,400)
> Median household income: $81,136 (Hawaii: $83,173)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 77

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Kirk Fisher / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Idaho: Kellogg
> Rental occupied housing units: 47.1% (Idaho: 29.2%)
> Median rental cost: $694 (Idaho: $887)
> Median home value: $116,400 (Idaho: $235,600)
> Median household income: $36,380 (Idaho: $58,915)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 46

usairforce / Flickr

Illinois: Scott AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.6% (Illinois: 33.7%)
> Median rental cost: $1,458 (Illinois: $1,038)
> Median home value: N/A (Illinois: $202,100)
> Median household income: $71,679 (Illinois: $68,428)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 386

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Indiana: Warren Park
> Rental occupied housing units: 69.2% (Indiana: 30.5%)
> Median rental cost: $814 (Indiana: $844)
> Median home value: $144,700 (Indiana: $148,900)
> Median household income: $32,833 (Indiana: $58,235)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 167

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Iowa: Storm Lake
> Rental occupied housing units: 49.2% (Iowa: 28.8%)
> Median rental cost: $695 (Iowa: $806)
> Median home value: $142,000 (Iowa: $153,900)
> Median household income: $47,943 (Iowa: $61,836)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 132

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Kansas: Fort Riley
> Rental occupied housing units: 98.3% (Kansas: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $1,143 (Kansas: $863)
> Median home value: $217,900 (Kansas: $157,600)
> Median household income: $43,445 (Kansas: $61,091)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 103

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Kentucky: Fort Knox
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.4% (Kentucky: 32.4%)
> Median rental cost: $1,046 (Kentucky: $783)
> Median home value: N/A (Kentucky: $147,100)
> Median household income: $63,119 (Kentucky: $52,238)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 139

Louisiana: Fort Polk North
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Louisiana: 33.4%)
> Median rental cost: $990 (Louisiana: $876)
> Median home value: N/A (Louisiana: $168,100)
> Median household income: $35,615 (Louisiana: $50,800)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 167

Maine: Farmington
> Rental occupied housing units: 59.2% (Maine: 27.1%)
> Median rental cost: $738 (Maine: $873)
> Median home value: $164,400 (Maine: $198,000)
> Median household income: $39,318 (Maine: $59,489)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 67

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Brooks Kraft / Getty Images

Maryland: Fort Meade
> Rental occupied housing units: 97.6% (Maryland: 32.9%)
> Median rental cost: $2,148 (Maryland: $1,415)
> Median home value: $421,600 (Maryland: $325,400)
> Median household income: $80,438 (Maryland: $87,063)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 200

Massachusetts: Lenox
> Rental occupied housing units: 63.4% (Massachusetts: 37.5%)
> Median rental cost: $967 (Massachusetts: $1,336)
> Median home value: $279,300 (Massachusetts: $398,800)
> Median household income: $40,294 (Massachusetts: $84,385)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 119

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Michigan: K. I. Sawyer
> Rental occupied housing units: 75.8% (Michigan: 28.3%)
> Median rental cost: $656 (Michigan: $892)
> Median home value: $46,700 (Michigan: $162,600)
> Median household income: $37,217 (Michigan: $59,234)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 254

Minnesota: Spring Park
> Rental occupied housing units: 78.1% (Minnesota: 28.1%)
> Median rental cost: $1,097 (Minnesota: $1,010)
> Median home value: $482,300 (Minnesota: $235,700)
> Median household income: $48,661 (Minnesota: $73,382)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 204

DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Mississippi: Tunica Resorts
> Rental occupied housing units: 89.4% (Mississippi: 31.2%)
> Median rental cost: $857 (Mississippi: $789)
> Median home value: $150,000 (Mississippi: $125,500)
> Median household income: $41,739 (Mississippi: $46,511)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 97

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Missouri: Fort Leonard Wood
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.3% (Missouri: 32.9%)
> Median rental cost: $1,251 (Missouri: $843)
> Median home value: N/A (Missouri: $163,600)
> Median household income: $58,598 (Missouri: $57,290)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 220

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Montana: Malmstrom AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Montana: 31.5%)
> Median rental cost: $996 (Montana: $836)
> Median home value: N/A (Montana: $244,900)
> Median household income: $51,967 (Montana: $56,539)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 42

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my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

Nebraska: Offutt AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Nebraska: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $1,320 (Nebraska: $857)
> Median home value: N/A (Nebraska: $164,000)
> Median household income: $61,602 (Nebraska: $63,015)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 54

Nevada: Nellis AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 94.7% (Nevada: 42.9%)
> Median rental cost: $1,626 (Nevada: $1,159)
> Median home value: $87,700 (Nevada: $290,200)
> Median household income: $64,507 (Nevada: $62,043)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 32

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New Hampshire: Newmarket
> Rental occupied housing units: 57.8% (New Hampshire: 28.8%)
> Median rental cost: $1,324 (New Hampshire: $1,145)
> Median home value: $269,900 (New Hampshire: $272,300)
> Median household income: $69,259 (New Hampshire: $77,923)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 40

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New Jersey: McGuire AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (New Jersey: 36.0%)
> Median rental cost: $2,067 (New Jersey: $1,368)
> Median home value: N/A (New Jersey: $343,500)
> Median household income: $76,957 (New Jersey: $85,245)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 380

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

New Mexico: Holloman AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (New Mexico: 32.0%)
> Median rental cost: $1,113 (New Mexico: $857)
> Median home value: N/A (New Mexico: $175,700)
> Median household income: $47,838 (New Mexico: $51,243)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 69

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New York: West Point
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.5% (New York: 45.9%)
> Median rental cost: $3,096 (New York: $1,315)
> Median home value: N/A (New York: $325,000)
> Median household income: $115,565 (New York: $71,117)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 516

Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States / Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina: Cullowhee
> Rental occupied housing units: 86.6% (North Carolina: 34.3%)
> Median rental cost: $685 (North Carolina: $932)
> Median home value: $302,900 (North Carolina: $182,100)
> Median household income: $30,168 (North Carolina: $56,642)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 290

North Dakota: Minot AFB
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.0% (North Dakota: 37.5%)
> Median rental cost: $1,497 (North Dakota: $828)
> Median home value: N/A (North Dakota: $199,900)
> Median household income: $63,839 (North Dakota: $65,315)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 18

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Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Ohio: Lincoln Heights
> Rental occupied housing units: 76.9% (Ohio: 33.7%)
> Median rental cost: $732 (Ohio: $825)
> Median home value: $70,400 (Ohio: $151,400)
> Median household income: $15,417 (Ohio: $58,116)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 393

Omnedon / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Oklahoma: Stilwell
> Rental occupied housing units: 60.5% (Oklahoma: 33.9%)
> Median rental cost: $489 (Oklahoma: $818)
> Median home value: $78,900 (Oklahoma: $142,400)
> Median household income: $22,470 (Oklahoma: $53,840)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 134

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M.O. Stevens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Oregon: Seaside
> Rental occupied housing units: 60.7% (Oregon: 37.2%)
> Median rental cost: $935 (Oregon: $1,173)
> Median home value: $317,700 (Oregon: $336,700)
> Median household income: $41,625 (Oregon: $65,667)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 132

Pennsylvania: Toftrees
> Rental occupied housing units: 82.7% (Pennsylvania: 31.0%)
> Median rental cost: $1,324 (Pennsylvania: $958)
> Median home value: $305,800 (Pennsylvania: $187,500)
> Median household income: $59,351 (Pennsylvania: $63,627)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 569

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Rhode Island: Central Falls
> Rental occupied housing units: 76.2% (Rhode Island: 38.4%)
> Median rental cost: $884 (Rhode Island: $1,031)
> Median home value: $176,300 (Rhode Island: $276,600)
> Median household income: $34,689 (Rhode Island: $70,305)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 12

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina: Central
> Rental occupied housing units: 82.5% (South Carolina: 29.9%)
> Median rental cost: $693 (South Carolina: $918)
> Median home value: $112,500 (South Carolina: $170,100)
> Median household income: $31,233 (South Carolina: $54,864)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 172

South Dakota: Sisseton
> Rental occupied housing units: 58.1% (South Dakota: 32.0%)
> Median rental cost: $568 (South Dakota: $761)
> Median home value: $90,400 (South Dakota: $174,600)
> Median household income: $38,516 (South Dakota: $59,896)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 37

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Tennessee: Jamestown
> Rental occupied housing units: 74.0% (Tennessee: 33.5%)
> Median rental cost: $387 (Tennessee: $897)
> Median home value: $69,200 (Tennessee: $177,600)
> Median household income: $17,051 (Tennessee: $54,833)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 160

Bobbie DeHerrera / Getty Images

Texas: Fort Bliss
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Texas: 37.7%)
> Median rental cost: $1,402 (Texas: $1,082)
> Median home value: N/A (Texas: $187,200)
> Median household income: $54,159 (Texas: $63,826)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 511

Utah: Vineyard
> Rental occupied housing units: 55.0% (Utah: 29.5%)
> Median rental cost: $1,458 (Utah: $1,090)
> Median home value: $420,000 (Utah: $305,400)
> Median household income: $80,868 (Utah: $74,197)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 75

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Vermont: Winooski
> Rental occupied housing units: 64.5% (Vermont: 28.7%)
> Median rental cost: $1,231 (Vermont: $999)
> Median home value: $231,300 (Vermont: $230,900)
> Median household income: $56,236 (Vermont: $63,477)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 26

Edward Palm / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Virginia: Quantico Base
> Rental occupied housing units: 99.3% (Virginia: 33.3%)
> Median rental cost: $1,888 (Virginia: $1,257)
> Median home value: N/A (Virginia: $282,800)
> Median household income: $60,682 (Virginia: $76,398)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 218

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Washington: North Fort Lewis
> Rental occupied housing units: 100.0% (Washington: 36.7%)
> Median rental cost: $1,911 (Washington: $1,337)
> Median home value: N/A (Washington: $366,800)
> Median household income: $50,726 (Washington: $77,006)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 241

West Virginia: Williamson
> Rental occupied housing units: 61.6% (West Virginia: 26.3%)
> Median rental cost: $500 (West Virginia: $732)
> Median home value: $84,000 (West Virginia: $123,200)
> Median household income: $25,707 (West Virginia: $48,037)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 73

benkrut / iStock via Getty Images

Wisconsin: Whitewater
> Rental occupied housing units: 69.9% (Wisconsin: 32.9%)
> Median rental cost: $783 (Wisconsin: $872)
> Median home value: $171,300 (Wisconsin: $189,200)
> Median household income: $36,211 (Wisconsin: $63,293)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 222

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benedek / iStock via Getty Images

Wyoming: Jackson
> Rental occupied housing units: 63.2% (Wyoming: 29.0%)
> Median rental cost: $1,509 (Wyoming: $853)
> Median home value: $702,700 (Wyoming: $228,000)
> Median household income: $76,518 (Wyoming: $65,304)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 30

Methodology

To determine the town with the highest rental rate in every state, 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 excluded if rental rates were not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a town’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 town’s rental rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all towns’ rental rates. We similarly excluded towns that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.

Towns were ranked based on the percentage of housing units that are occupied by renters. To break ties, we used the number 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. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.

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