The buy vs. rent pendulum is always swinging, but some cities cater better to those already set on renting.
WalletHub analyzed 182 markets based on two factors: rental market & affordability, and quality of life. Every city was graded on a 100-point scale using 21 metrics, like the share of renters and the job market.
The Midwest and Sun Belt have been duking it out for the title of best region to live in in recent years, but one Sun Belt state west of the Mississippi River made the biggest splash on WalletHub’s list: Arizona.
On the whole, the state of Arizona hasn’t been a popular choice, but for renters, it checks some important boxes. Chandler, Gilbert, and Scottsdale, Arizona, all finished in the top five in quality-of-life rankings, with Scottsdale ranking first.
US News & World Report ranked Arizona 17th in employment, and according to WalletHub, a majority of renters in all three cities spend less than 22% of their income on rent.
As for the cities on the opposite end of the spectrum, unsurprisingly, they ranked low in rental market & affordability, and quality of life, with rankings not exceeding 123rd for either category.
Read below to see which cities are good for renters, and which ones aren’t.
Worst cities for renters
10. Shreveport, LA
Total score: 38.08
Rental market & affordability rank: 123
Quality of life rank: 179
9. Huntington, WV
Total score: 38.02
Rental market & affordability rank: 143
Quality of life rank: 172
8. Augusta, GA
Total score: 38.00
Rental market & affordability rank: 136
Quality of life rank: 180
7. New Orleans, LA
Total score: 36.51
Rental market & affordability rank: 154
Quality of life rank: 162
6. Newark, NJ
Total score: 36.08
Rental market & affordability rank: 149
Quality of life rank: 169
5. Akron, OH
Total score: 34.38
Rental market & affordability rank: 170
Quality of life rank: 167
4. Memphis, TN
Total score: 32.97
Rental market & affordability rank: 114
Quality of life rank: 182
3. Jackson, MS
Total score: 32.79
Rental market & affordability rank: 181
Quality of life rank: 146
2. Cleveland, OH
Total score: 32.02
Rental market & affordability rank: 174
Quality of life rank: 178
1. Detroit, MI
Total score: 29.95
Rental market & affordability rank: 160
Quality of life rank: 181
Best cities for renters
10. Amarillo, TX
Total score: 60.18
Rental market & affordability rank: 20
Quality of life rank: 34
9. Sioux Falls, SD
Total score: 62.33
Rental market & affordability rank: 1
Quality of life rank: 108
8. Huntsville, AL
Total score: 63.10
Rental market & affordability rank: 4
Quality of life rank: 38
7. Bismarck, ND
Total score: 63.60
Rental market & affordability rank: 3
Quality of life rank: 55
6. Peoria, AZ
Total score: 65.25
Rental market & affordability rank: 22
Quality of life rank: 2
5. Columbia, MD
Total score: 65.80
Rental market & affordability rank: 2
Quality of life rank: 39
4. Overland Park, KS
Total score: 66.94
Rental market & affordability rank: 9
Quality of life rank: 4
3. Chandler, AZ
Total score: 67.20
Rental market & affordability rank: 11
Quality of life rank: 5
2. Gilbert, AZ
Total score: 67.63
Rental market & affordability rank: 6
Quality of life rank: 9
1. Scottsdale, AZ
Total score: 69.05
Rental market & affordability rank: 24
Quality of life rank: 1
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