These cities are the best and worst for renters in 2025, study shows

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FILE-A "For Lease" sign is posted outside a house available for rent in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

As the cost of homes gets more expensive, prospective homebuyers are finding limited inventory in the housing market, leading many to explore rental options. 

While renting may be a feasible choice for consumers, prices do vary depending on the region of the country you’re in and WalletHub released a new study evaluating the places where buyers can get the most for their money. 

RELATED: Rent prices falling in most U.S. cities, report finds

WalletHub compared over 180 rental markets using 21 key metrics centered on rental attractiveness and quality of life. Researchers graded each data point on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for renters. 

Additionally, data from the team ranges from the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments to historical price changes and the cost of living and job availability.

Here are the best and worst cities for renters in 2025.

Best cities for renters

1. Overland Park, Kansas
2. Scottsdale, Arizona
3. Chandler, Arizona
4. Gilbert, Arizona
5. Bismark, North Dakota
6. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
7. Huntsville, Alabama
8. Peoria, Arizona
9. Lewistown, Maine
10. Nashua, New Hampshire

Worst cities for renters

1. Memphis
2. Detroit
3. Cleveland
4. Tacoma, Washington
5. New Orleans
6. Newark, New Jersey
7. Jackson, Mississippi
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
9. San Bernardino, California
10. Huntington, West Virginia

What the study says about the Top 3 rental cities 

Dig deeper: WalletHub’s data determined that Overland Park, Kansas, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Chandler, Arizona led the charge for best cities for renters and here’s what researchers concluded. 

RELATED: The most and least affordable cities for renters: Final 2024 data

Overland Park, KS

Overland Park, Kansas, is the top place to rent, with the highest average home square footage in the U.S., at 2,809 square feet. According to the study, the city has the eighth-best rental affordability, with individuals on average spending only 17% of their annual income on rent. Conversely, approximately 18% of households pay over 50% of their income for housing, the eighth-lowest share in the nation.

WalletHub noted that the area is also a great location for people who have kids or plan to start a family. Overland has a very good school system, with 55% of public schools in the city earning a rating of at least 7 out of 10 from Greatschools.org. Meanwhile, Overland Park also has the 33rd-lowest crime rate in the U.S.

Scottsdale, AZ

According to WalletHub, Scottsdale, Arizona ranks as the second-best place for renters primarily because of the city’s quality of life. The area ranks as the best place for both job availability and its driving environment (traffic and infrastructure quality). Scottsdale also has the fourth-best weather and the sixth-best recreation choices for residents. 

The study noted that Scottsdale has the 53rd-best rental affordability out of 182 cities, with most residents spending roughly 21% of their annual income on rent. Scottsdale also has one of the highest average home square footage in the U.S., at 2,331 square feet.

Chandler, AZ

Chandler, Arizona was ranked in the report as the third-best place to rent in 2025, in part because most residents spend 21% of their annual income on rent, and about 18% of households spend over 50% of their income on housing costs. Meanwhile, homes in the area have ample space with an average square footage of 1,909. WalletHub noted that 16% of homes were built between 2010 and 2023.