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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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
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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
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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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
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
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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
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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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
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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
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
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
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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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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
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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
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
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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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
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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
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
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
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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
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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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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
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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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
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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
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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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
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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
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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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
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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
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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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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