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 most states, however, there is at least one county where renting is relatively uncommon.
To determine the county with the lowest rental rate in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of housing units that are occupied by renters among counties and county equivalents from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
Young people are far more likely to rent homes than buy. In a number of counties where a relatively low share of housing units are rentals, age appears to be a factor. According to the census, 23.2% of Americans are 18-34 years old. In all 50 of the places on this list, that demographic amounts to a smaller share of the population. In Sumter County, Florida, 8.6% of the population is 18-34, one of the lowest shares of any American county. These are the states where the population has gone up since the pandemic started.
Click here to see the county with the lowest rental rate in every state.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Alabama: Washington County
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.5% (Alabama: 30.8%)
> Median rental cost: $742 (Alabama: $811)
> Median home value: $88,100 (Alabama: $149,600)
> Median household income: $42,331 (Alabama: $52,035)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
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Alaska: Matanuska-Susitna Borough
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.2% (Alaska: 35.2%)
> Median rental cost: $1,115 (Alaska: $1,240)
> Median home value: $257,900 (Alaska: $275,600)
> Median household income: $76,118 (Alaska: $77,790)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 25
Arizona: Apache County
> Rental occupied housing units: 20.3% (Arizona: 34.7%)
> Median rental cost: $527 (Arizona: $1,097)
> Median home value: $61,800 (Arizona: $242,000)
> Median household income: $33,967 (Arizona: $61,529)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 15
Arkansas: Montgomery County
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.8% (Arkansas: 34.2%)
> Median rental cost: $551 (Arkansas: $760)
> Median home value: $111,600 (Arkansas: $133,600)
> Median household income: $41,165 (Arkansas: $49,475)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 75
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California: Alpine County
> Rental occupied housing units: 19.1% (California: 44.7%)
> Median rental cost: $639 (California: $1,586)
> Median home value: $372,500 (California: $538,500)
> Median household income: $85,750 (California: $78,672)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 58
Colorado: Elbert County
> Rental occupied housing units: 8.7% (Colorado: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $1,203 (Colorado: $1,335)
> Median home value: $492,300 (Colorado: $369,900)
> Median household income: $104,231 (Colorado: $75,231)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 57
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Connecticut: Litchfield County
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.9% (Connecticut: 33.9%)
> Median rental cost: $1,061 (Connecticut: $1,201)
> Median home value: $258,300 (Connecticut: $279,700)
> Median household income: $81,590 (Connecticut: $79,855)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 8
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Delaware: Sussex County
> Rental occupied housing units: 18.9% (Delaware: 28.6%)
> Median rental cost: $1,049 (Delaware: $1,150)
> Median home value: $269,700 (Delaware: $258,300)
> Median household income: $64,905 (Delaware: $69,110)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 3
Florida: Sumter County
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.4% (Florida: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $935 (Florida: $1,218)
> Median home value: $267,100 (Florida: $232,000)
> Median household income: $59,618 (Florida: $57,703)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 66
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Georgia: Harris County
> Rental occupied housing units: 10.7% (Georgia: 36.0%)
> Median rental cost: $874 (Georgia: $1,042)
> Median home value: $230,400 (Georgia: $190,200)
> Median household income: $79,860 (Georgia: $61,224)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 158
Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.7% (Hawaii: 39.7%)
> Median rental cost: $1,214 (Hawaii: $1,651)
> Median home value: $364,100 (Hawaii: $636,400)
> Median household income: $65,401 (Hawaii: $83,173)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 4
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Idaho: Franklin County
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.2% (Idaho: 29.2%)
> Median rental cost: $745 (Idaho: $887)
> Median home value: $222,200 (Idaho: $235,600)
> Median household income: $59,934 (Idaho: $58,915)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 42
Illinois: Calhoun County
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.3% (Illinois: 33.7%)
> Median rental cost: $546 (Illinois: $1,038)
> Median home value: $131,800 (Illinois: $202,100)
> Median household income: $66,602 (Illinois: $68,428)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 102
Indiana: Brown County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.6% (Indiana: 30.5%)
> Median rental cost: $822 (Indiana: $844)
> Median home value: $206,600 (Indiana: $148,900)
> Median household income: $66,833 (Indiana: $58,235)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 92
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Iowa: Lyon County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.6% (Iowa: 28.8%)
> Median rental cost: $714 (Iowa: $806)
> Median home value: $160,700 (Iowa: $153,900)
> Median household income: $65,959 (Iowa: $61,836)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 99
Kansas: Jefferson County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.5% (Kansas: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $759 (Kansas: $863)
> Median home value: $163,400 (Kansas: $157,600)
> Median household income: $67,429 (Kansas: $61,091)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 101
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Kentucky: Spencer County
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.1% (Kentucky: 32.4%)
> Median rental cost: $726 (Kentucky: $783)
> Median home value: $227,000 (Kentucky: $147,100)
> Median household income: $85,488 (Kentucky: $52,238)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 120
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Louisiana: LaSalle Parish
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.3% (Louisiana: 33.4%)
> Median rental cost: $640 (Louisiana: $876)
> Median home value: $107,000 (Louisiana: $168,100)
> Median household income: $51,141 (Louisiana: $50,800)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 63
Maine: Oxford County
> Rental occupied housing units: 19.5% (Maine: 27.1%)
> Median rental cost: $718 (Maine: $873)
> Median home value: $150,700 (Maine: $198,000)
> Median household income: $49,761 (Maine: $59,489)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 16
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Maryland: Calvert County
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.3% (Maryland: 32.9%)
> Median rental cost: $1,461 (Maryland: $1,415)
> Median home value: $364,800 (Maryland: $325,400)
> Median household income: $112,696 (Maryland: $87,063)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 24
Massachusetts: Barnstable County
> Rental occupied housing units: 20.4% (Massachusetts: 37.5%)
> Median rental cost: $1,362 (Massachusetts: $1,336)
> Median home value: $414,000 (Massachusetts: $398,800)
> Median household income: $76,863 (Massachusetts: $84,385)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
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Michigan: Benzie County
> Rental occupied housing units: 9.1% (Michigan: 28.3%)
> Median rental cost: $803 (Michigan: $892)
> Median home value: $195,400 (Michigan: $162,600)
> Median household income: $64,257 (Michigan: $59,234)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 82
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Minnesota: Chisago County
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.6% (Minnesota: 28.1%)
> Median rental cost: $912 (Minnesota: $1,010)
> Median home value: $244,600 (Minnesota: $235,700)
> Median household income: $86,900 (Minnesota: $73,382)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 87
Mississippi: Greene County
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.9% (Mississippi: 31.2%)
> Median rental cost: $627 (Mississippi: $789)
> Median home value: $83,100 (Mississippi: $125,500)
> Median household income: $47,033 (Mississippi: $46,511)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 81
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Missouri: Ralls County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.6% (Missouri: 32.9%)
> Median rental cost: $716 (Missouri: $843)
> Median home value: $134,700 (Missouri: $163,600)
> Median household income: $54,194 (Missouri: $57,290)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 115
Montana: Broadwater County
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.7% (Montana: 31.5%)
> Median rental cost: $697 (Montana: $836)
> Median home value: $238,000 (Montana: $244,900)
> Median household income: $57,723 (Montana: $56,539)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 48
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Nebraska: Nance County
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.0% (Nebraska: 33.8%)
> Median rental cost: $654 (Nebraska: $857)
> Median home value: $78,400 (Nebraska: $164,000)
> Median household income: $53,147 (Nebraska: $63,015)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 79
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Nevada: Lander County
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.2% (Nevada: 42.9%)
> Median rental cost: $835 (Nevada: $1,159)
> Median home value: $167,400 (Nevada: $290,200)
> Median household income: $73,797 (Nevada: $62,043)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
New Hampshire: Carroll County
> Rental occupied housing units: 20.6% (New Hampshire: 28.8%)
> Median rental cost: $926 (New Hampshire: $1,145)
> Median home value: $251,400 (New Hampshire: $272,300)
> Median household income: $66,932 (New Hampshire: $77,923)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 10
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New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.1% (New Jersey: 36.0%)
> Median rental cost: $1,443 (New Jersey: $1,368)
> Median home value: $418,700 (New Jersey: $343,500)
> Median household income: $117,858 (New Jersey: $85,245)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 21
New Mexico: Torrance County
> Rental occupied housing units: 17.6% (New Mexico: 32.0%)
> Median rental cost: $682 (New Mexico: $857)
> Median home value: $115,500 (New Mexico: $175,700)
> Median household income: $38,240 (New Mexico: $51,243)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 30
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New York: Hamilton County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.7% (New York: 45.9%)
> Median rental cost: $841 (New York: $1,315)
> Median home value: $170,500 (New York: $325,000)
> Median household income: $60,625 (New York: $71,117)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 62
North Carolina: Currituck County
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.1% (North Carolina: 34.3%)
> Median rental cost: $1,101 (North Carolina: $932)
> Median home value: $263,400 (North Carolina: $182,100)
> Median household income: $73,741 (North Carolina: $56,642)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 100
North Dakota: Grant County
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.1% (North Dakota: 37.5%)
> Median rental cost: $527 (North Dakota: $828)
> Median home value: $75,600 (North Dakota: $199,900)
> Median household income: $53,750 (North Dakota: $65,315)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 49
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Ohio: Geauga County
> Rental occupied housing units: 13.3% (Ohio: 33.7%)
> Median rental cost: $839 (Ohio: $825)
> Median home value: $247,700 (Ohio: $151,400)
> Median household income: $83,730 (Ohio: $58,116)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 88
Oklahoma: Logan County
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.4% (Oklahoma: 33.9%)
> Median rental cost: $765 (Oklahoma: $818)
> Median home value: $176,000 (Oklahoma: $142,400)
> Median household income: $70,456 (Oklahoma: $53,840)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 77
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Oregon: Columbia County
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.3% (Oregon: 37.2%)
> Median rental cost: $985 (Oregon: $1,173)
> Median home value: $282,600 (Oregon: $336,700)
> Median household income: $68,170 (Oregon: $65,667)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 34
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Pennsylvania: Pike County
> Rental occupied housing units: 15.7% (Pennsylvania: 31.0%)
> Median rental cost: $1,204 (Pennsylvania: $958)
> Median home value: $186,600 (Pennsylvania: $187,500)
> Median household income: $67,495 (Pennsylvania: $63,627)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
Rhode Island: Washington County
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.9% (Rhode Island: 38.4%)
> Median rental cost: $1,115 (Rhode Island: $1,031)
> Median home value: $359,300 (Rhode Island: $276,600)
> Median household income: $86,970 (Rhode Island: $70,305)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 5
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South Carolina: Calhoun County
> Rental occupied housing units: 18.6% (South Carolina: 29.9%)
> Median rental cost: $666 (South Carolina: $918)
> Median home value: $104,500 (South Carolina: $170,100)
> Median household income: $49,844 (South Carolina: $54,864)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 46
South Dakota: Hanson County
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.2% (South Dakota: 32.0%)
> Median rental cost: $715 (South Dakota: $761)
> Median home value: $139,900 (South Dakota: $174,600)
> Median household income: $63,750 (South Dakota: $59,896)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 60
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Tennessee: Moore County
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.3% (Tennessee: 33.5%)
> Median rental cost: $647 (Tennessee: $897)
> Median home value: $200,500 (Tennessee: $177,600)
> Median household income: $63,762 (Tennessee: $54,833)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 95
Texas: Wilson County
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.7% (Texas: 37.7%)
> Median rental cost: $931 (Texas: $1,082)
> Median home value: $210,600 (Texas: $187,200)
> Median household income: $80,082 (Texas: $63,826)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 226
Utah: Morgan County
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.5% (Utah: 29.5%)
> Median rental cost: $1,230 (Utah: $1,090)
> Median home value: $417,600 (Utah: $305,400)
> Median household income: $100,408 (Utah: $74,197)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 27
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Vermont: Grand Isle County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.1% (Vermont: 28.7%)
> Median rental cost: $1,024 (Vermont: $999)
> Median home value: $287,200 (Vermont: $230,900)
> Median household income: $81,667 (Vermont: $63,477)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
Virginia: Powhatan County
> Rental occupied housing units: 7.2% (Virginia: 33.3%)
> Median rental cost: $1,125 (Virginia: $1,257)
> Median home value: $291,300 (Virginia: $282,800)
> Median household income: $93,833 (Virginia: $76,398)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 131
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Washington: Wahkiakum County
> Rental occupied housing units: 11.0% (Washington: 36.7%)
> Median rental cost: $785 (Washington: $1,337)
> Median home value: $228,600 (Washington: $366,800)
> Median household income: $54,524 (Washington: $77,006)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 39
West Virginia: Tyler County
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.8% (West Virginia: 26.3%)
> Median rental cost: $651 (West Virginia: $732)
> Median home value: $90,900 (West Virginia: $123,200)
> Median household income: $47,598 (West Virginia: $48,037)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 54
Wisconsin: Florence County
> Rental occupied housing units: 12.5% (Wisconsin: 32.9%)
> Median rental cost: $478 (Wisconsin: $872)
> Median home value: $130,700 (Wisconsin: $189,200)
> Median household income: $50,821 (Wisconsin: $63,293)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 72
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Wyoming: Weston County
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.1% (Wyoming: 29.0%)
> Median rental cost: $761 (Wyoming: $853)
> Median home value: $166,600 (Wyoming: $228,000)
> Median household income: $53,333 (Wyoming: $65,304)
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 23
Methodology
To determine the county with the lowest 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.
Counties 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 county’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 county’s rental rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ rental rates. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Counties 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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