One Sun Belt state is an unexpected renter’s paradise, according to a new study that compared 180 rental markets in the U.S.
The top three rental markets in the nation in 2026 are all in Arizona, according to a new analysis from personal finance site WalletHub.
The report’s 10 best places for renters, in order, are Scottsdale, AZ; Gilbert, AZ; Chandler, AZ; Overland Park, KS; Columbia, MD; Peoria, AZ; Bismarck, ND; Huntsville, AL; Sioux Falls, SD; and Amarillo, TX.
“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income,” writer and analyst Chip Lupo notes in the report. “You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent.”
To calculate a total score, WalletHub considered 21 key measures of rental attractiveness and quality of life, then graded them on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for renters.
The study took into consideration legal protections for rental tenants, as well as quality of life factors such as a city’s traffic congestion, job market, and recreation options.
Arizona: Renter’s paradise
Arizona earned high marks not only in the rental market and affordability category with metrics such as a low rent-to-price ratio, but in the quality of life category as well.
This category took into consideration high marks on Sharecare Community Well-Being Index Score, which measures residents’ happiness levels; a robust job market; good weather; and quality public schools. But one metric is unique to renters: how much legal protection they have.
For instance, when it comes to a renter’s worst nightmare, bedbugs are right up there with loud neighbors. WalletHub’s ranking takes into account states with bedbug laws that protect a tenant.
“The landlord shall not enter into any lease agreement with a tenant for a dwelling unit that the landlord knows to have a current bedbug infestation,” states the Arizona state Legislature’s bedbug law.
Believe it or not, only 21 states have any kind of regulations regarding the creepy crawlies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Scottsdale: Best city for renters
In No. 1-ranked Scottsdale, affordability is key. Most people spend under 22% of their annual income on rent, and yet, the city has one of the largest average home square footages in the country at 2,179 square feet. The next two spots on the list are taken by the adjacent suburbs of Gilbert and Chandler.
“With enormous population growth in the Gilbert area over the last few years, a lack of sales inventory, and increased building costs, many are choosing to rent at this time,” Scottsdale-based Retsy real estate brokerage agent Heather Steck tells Realtor.com®.
She notes that many multifamily buildings have recently been built in the metro, creating a lot of options for renters.
“We understand the draw to the area,” she says, pointing to the proximity to mountains for snow activities and Southern California for the beach. “The summer is definitely warm, but we have eight months of wonderful weather and 2.5 months of pretty hot. It’s very temperate most of the year.”
A metric that was double-weighted in the study’s quality of life category was violent- and property-crime rates. Gilbert has the third-lowest crime rate of all the 180 rental markets. Steck, who lives in the city, agrees that it’s a safe community.
“It feels kind of like how it was 20 or 30 years ago, when I was growing up,” she says. “Neighbors look out for each other. If you leave your garage door open, you’ll get a call.”
Additionally, the area is known for its excellent school system, with 61% of public schools in Gilbert reaching a rating of at least 7 out of 10 from Greatschools.org, with only 20 cities out of 182 in the study achieving percentages of 50% or higher.
However, when it comes to affordability, Arizona is outranked. The No. 1 metro in the rental market and affordability category is Sioux Falls, ND.
This category includes metrics such as rental vacancy rates, sublet-friendly policies, average home square footage, security deposit limits, and policies that make it easier for those who may have barriers to the rental market, such as a low credit score, spotty work record, or a lack of housing references.
But the city’s relatively low score for quality of life (108 out of 180 markets) means that Sioux Falls was pushed down to a No. 9 overall rank.
While Maryland, with its median home list price of $439,000, isn’t exactly known for affordability, No. 5 ranked Columbia—a masterplanned community and the second most populous community after Baltimore—was surprising with its No. 2 rank in the rental market and affordability category.
“We have a great influx in this area of condos and townhouses, which people can rent at a reasonable price,” Greg Skipper, branch manager and broker representative of Columbia-based Long & Foster Realty, tells Realtor.com.
He says two-bedroom, two-bath residences rent for about $1,600 to $2,400 a month, with the majority priced below $2,000.
He also notes that the state has a nice law on the books for renters: The right of first refusal states that anyone with an active rental lease has the right to first make an offer at market value if the landlord decides to sell.
Additionally, the maximum security deposit allowed for leases signed after Oct. 1, 2024, is one month’s rent, regardless of the number of tenants.
“Everyone is looking for affordability,” Skipper says. “There’s the opportunity for affordability from a rental perspective here in our area.”
Scottsdale, AZ
Gilbert, AZ
Chandler, AZ
Overland Park, KS
Columbia, MD
Peoria, AZ
Bismarck, ND
Huntsville, AL
Sioux Falls, SD
Amarillo, TX
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