Here are the best and worst cities to rent in America, according to study

FILE-A for sale sign hangs in front of a home in 2023. (Photo by Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

The prices of homes are skyrocketing nationwide, resulting in more people choosing to rent instead of buying a house, but even renting can get pricey depending on where you live. 

With roughly 45 million Americans going on the path of home rentals, WalletHub released a report of the best and worst cities to rent a home in the U.S. 

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WalletHub compared over 180 rental markets using 21 criteria including rental rates, mortgage payments, rental affordability, the cost of living and job availability, and quality of life. 

The team graded each category on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing optimal conditions for consumers in the rental market. 

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Map: Best and worst rental cities

Best cities to rent a home in the U.S. 

  1. Bismark, North Dakota
  2. Overland Park, Kansas
  3. Scottsdale, Arizona
  4. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  5. Lewiston, Maine
  6. Chandler, Arizona
  7. Fargo, North Dakota
  8. Gilbert, Arizona
  9. Huntsville, Alabama
  10. Lincoln, Nebraska

Worst cities to rent in the U.S. 

  1. Jackson, Mississippi
  2. Tacoma, Washington
  3. Cleveland, Ohio
  4. Detroit, Michigan
  5. Memphis, Tennessee

To see WalletHub’s full list of where each city ranks, click here.

This story was reported from Washington, D.C.