Scottsdale and two Southeast Valley cities took the top three best places to rent in the nation in personal-finance company WalletHub’s annual survey of 182 cities.
Gilbert and Chandler took second and third place, respectively, among a survey based on 21 key indicators of “rental attractiveness and quality of life.” Peoria captured the sixth best place, putting four Arizona municipalities in WalletHub’s “best” 10.
“Our data set ranges from the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments to rental affordability, the cost of living and job availability,” WalletHub said.
Rounding out the top 10 nationally, in order from fourth to 10th place, were Overland Park, Kansas; Columbia, Maryland; Peoria; Bismark, North Dakota; Huntsville, Alabama; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Amarillo, Texas.
Detroit ranked last among 182, preceded by second-worst Cleveland and third-worst Jackso, Mississippi.
“Bismarck, North Dakota, has the highest rental affordability, with the lowest median annual gross rent divided by median annual household income at 15.29%,” the survey said. “This is 2.4 times lower than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the lowest at 36.46%.”
It said Charleston, West Virginia has the highest rental vacancy rate, which is 8.5 times higher than in Nashua, New Hampshire, the city among the lowest.
Newark, New Jersey, has the highest share of renter-occupied housing units, which is 4.7 times higher than in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the city with the lowest.
Brownsville, Texas, has the lowest cost-of-living index, which is 2.4 times lower than in Honolulu and New York, New York, the cities with the highest.
Warwick, Rhode Island, has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), which is 31.7 times fewer than in Memphis, Tennessee, the city with the most.
“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst.
“You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent,” he said, adding:
“Our study also considers quality-of-life factors such as a city’s traffic congestion, job market or recreation options to make sure you can get a good living experience, not just inexpensive housing.”
“Scottsdale is the best place to rent, in large part due to the quality of life in the city,” Lupo continued.
Dr. Andrew Burnstine, an associate professor at Lynn University, cited Scottsdale and Chandler as cities that “demonstrate how a high quality of life can coexist with smart rental value.”
Lupo added, “Scottsdale ranks as the best city for both the availability of jobs and the driving environment (traffic and infrastructure quality). Arizona has state-level laws addressing bedbug infestations in rental properties, which further protects renters in Scottsdale.”
The survey also said, “Scottsdale isn’t the cheapest city to rent in, but it’s also far from the most expensive. It has the 57th-best rental affordability out of 182 cities, with most people only spending under 22% of their annual income on rent.
“The city also has one of the largest average home square footages in the country, at 2,179 square feet.”
The survey also found that Gilbert has the 37th-best rental affordability, with the average person only spending around 21% of their annual income on rent.
“In addition, only around 19% of households pay more than 50% of their income for housing, the 11th-lowest share in the country,” it continued. “Gilbert is also a great place for people who have or plan to have kids, as it has a very good school system – 61% of public schools in the city get a rating of at least 7 out of 10 from Greatschools.org.
“While this may not seem like a high percentage, only 20 cities out of 182 in our study achieve percentages of 50% or higher. Gilbert has the third-lowest crime rate, too.
Chandler captured third place in the country “partly because most people only spend around 21% of their annual income on rent, and only around 20% of households spend more than 50% of their income on housing costs,” the survey said.
“In addition, homes in Chandler have a generous average square footage, at 1,888 square feet. There are plenty of new homes to choose from, too, as more than 17% of homes were built between 2010 and 2024.”
Burnstine explained, “Value is not just about the lowest monthly rent; it is about the total cost of occupancy over your lease term.
“Savvy renters look for concessions, such as one month of free rent or waived application fees, which landlords are increasingly using to attract tenants in slower markets.”
Burnstine said renters should “treat your search like a project: map out your total monthly obligations, including utilities, parking, and transit costs. If you find a place with high energy efficiency or with internet included, you are effectively reducing your hidden rent.”
WalletHub consultants also suggested Arizona is moving in the right direction.
Landmark College professor Jeanette Landin, said that in order to increase rental affordability, “easing restrictions on the construction of multifamily housing in areas traditionally zoned for single-family homes would certainly help, as would streamlining the permitting process.
And Lynn University professor Dr. Andrew Burnstine, added, “The magic formula for policymakers is ‘missing middle’ housing, which allows cities to grow in density without turning every quiet street into a skyscraper zone.
“By permitting duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units, cities can increase supply and lower costs for renters while maintaining the visual character that existing homeowners value,” he said.
To view the survey: wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-renters/23010.