50 Best Places for Renters in 2026 — 37 Are in the South

If you’re on the hunt for great places to reside as a renter, where affordability meets substantial square footage and steady income growth, your best bet is to head to the South.

A September 2026 RentCafe study revealed 37 of the 50 best places for renters in 2026 can be found in the Southern region of the United States. Southern states, including Texas, Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia, all have cities which ranked among the top five best places for renters.

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Florida bested the competition with nine ranking cities highlighted as most ideal for renters, including popular destinations like Orlando and Miami. Roomy apartments averaging 1,000 or more square feet can be found in four cities: Marietta, Georgia, Athens, Georgia, Pensacola, Florida and Columbia, Missouri. And as for cities with the highest renter income growth, four more cities — Daytona Beach, Florida, Boise, Idaho, Miami and Huntsville, Alabama — stood out for 50% or more income growth.

See where the 50 best places for renters can be found across the nation.

1. McKinney, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 3

• Average apartment size: 983

• Occupancy rate: 92.1%

• Share of new apartments: 33.4%

• Share of high-end apartments: 84.5%

• Share of renter households: 36.2%

• Renter income growth: 35.9%

2. Huntsville, Alabama

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 2

• Average apartment size: 953

• Occupancy rate: 87.1%

• Share of new apartments: 30.9%

• Share of high-end apartments: 56.9%

• Share of renter households: 41.7%

• Renter income growth: 60.4%

3. Austin, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 8

• Average apartment size: 865

• Occupancy rate: 90.5%

• Share of new apartments: 26%

• Share of high-end apartments: 69.4%

• Share of renter households: 56.6%

• Renter income growth: 33.5%

4. Wilmington, North Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 11

• Average apartment size: 972

• Occupancy rate: 92.8%

• Share of new apartments: 27.8%

• Share of high-end apartments: 42.4%

• Share of renter households: 52.4%

• Renter income growth: 49.4%

5. Atlanta

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 35

• Average apartment size: 968

• Occupancy rate: 91.5%

• Share of new apartments: 18.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 70.4%

• Share of renter households: 53.6%

• Renter income growth: 41.9%

6. Raleigh, North Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 13

• Average apartment size: 946

• Occupancy rate: 91.8%

• Share of new apartments: 20.8%

• Share of high-end apartments: 69.5%

• Share of renter households: 49.3%

• Renter income growth: 29.3%

7. Scottsdale, Arizona

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 71

• Average apartment size: 951

• Occupancy rate: 93.7%

• Share of new apartments: 20.7%

• Share of high-end apartments: 83.8%

• Share of renter households: 33%

• Renter income growth: 29.2%

8. Round Rock, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 4

• Average apartment size: 925

• Occupancy rate: 89.4%

• Share of new apartments: 28.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 79.3%

• Share of renter households: 44.5%

• Renter income growth: 23.2%

9. Sarasota, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 9

• Average apartment size: 968

• Occupancy rate: 89.6%

• Share of new apartments: 27.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 73.5%

• Share of renter households: 42.5%

• Renter income growth: 28.3%

10. Greenville, South Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 20

• Average apartment size: 965

• Occupancy rate: 93.1%

• Share of new apartments: 19.1%

• Share of high-end apartments: 49.2%

• Share of renter households: 58.9%

• Renter income growth: 34.3%

11. Charleston, South Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 30

• Average apartment size: 979

• Occupancy rate: 93.6%

• Share of new apartments: 20.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 60.1%

• Share of renter households: 44.4%

• Renter income growth: 30.8%

12. Orlando, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 14

• Average apartment size: 965

• Occupancy rate: 93.2%

• Share of new apartments: 17.4%

• Share of high-end apartments: 65.8%

• Share of renter households: 60.5%

• Renter income growth: 36%

13. Gilbert, Arizona

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 24

• Average apartment size: 972

• Occupancy rate: 92.6%

• Share of new apartments: 35.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 88%

• Share of renter households: 26.9%

• Renter income growth: 37.4%

14. Miami

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 90

• Average apartment size: 895

• Occupancy rate: 94.2%

• Share of new apartments: 27.6%

• Share of high-end apartments: 56.9%

• Share of renter households: 69.2%

• Renter income growth: 62.1%

15. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 7

• Average apartment size: 918

• Occupancy rate: 92.5%

• Share of new apartments: 32.4%

• Share of high-end apartments: 54.7%

• Share of renter households: 40.5%

• Renter income growth: 34.3%

16. Durham, North Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 37

• Average apartment size: 930

• Occupancy rate: 91.5%

• Share of new apartments: 18.1%

• Share of high-end apartments: 60.1%

• Share of renter households: 47.7%

• Renter income growth: 45%

17. Charlotte, North Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 17

• Average apartment size: 954

• Occupancy rate: 92%

• Share of new apartments: 28.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 74.3%

• Share of renter households: 49%

• Renter income growth: 35.3%

18. Plano, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 66

• Average apartment size: 932

• Occupancy rate: 93.4%

• Share of new apartments: 11.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 79.6%

• Share of renter households: 43.1%

• Renter income growth: 22.4%

19. Denver

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 77

• Average apartment size: 843

• Occupancy rate: 91%

• Share of new apartments: 23.8%

• Share of high-end apartments: 60.2%

• Share of renter households: 51.2%

• Renter income growth: 41.3%

20. Asheville, North Carolina

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 39

• Average apartment size: 995

• Occupancy rate: 90.3%

• Share of new apartments: 15.9%

• Share of high-end apartments: 63.9%

• Share of renter households: 48.1%

• Renter income growth: 35.7%

21. Rochester, Minnesota

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 61

• Average apartment size: 940

• Occupancy rate: 94.5%

• Share of new apartments: 20.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 65.2%

• Share of renter households: 34.9%

• Renter income growth: 48.6%

22. Boise, Idaho

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 78

• Average apartment size: 880

• Occupancy rate: 94.4%

• Share of new apartments: 23.1%

• Share of high-end apartments: 46.8%

• Share of renter households: 36.8%

• Renter income growth: 54.4%

23. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 48

• Average apartment size: 869

• Occupancy rate: 91.9%

• Share of new apartments: 26.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 52%

• Share of renter households: 39.1%

• Renter income growth: 43.4%

24. Knoxville, Tennessee

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 21

• Average apartment size: 988

• Occupancy rate: 94%

• Share of new apartments: 16.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 39.9%

• Share of renter households: 53.4%

• Renter income growth: 42%

25. San Marcos, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 1

• Average apartment size: 988

• Occupancy rate: 84.5%

• Share of new apartments: 30.6%

• Share of high-end apartments: 69.4%

• Share of renter households: 69.2%

• Renter income growth: 27.1%

26. Marietta, Georgia

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 53

• Average apartment size: 1,042

• Occupancy rate: 93%

• Share of new apartments: 4.6%

• Share of high-end apartments: 47.2%

• Share of renter households: 52.8%

• Renter income growth: 31.6%

27. Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 67

• Average apartment size: 916

• Occupancy rate: 96.3%

• Share of new apartments: 11%

• Share of high-end apartments: 63%

• Share of renter households: 58.2%

• Renter income growth: 41.2%

28. Salt Lake City

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 42

• Average apartment size: 794

• Occupancy rate: 90.4%

• Share of new apartments: 33.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 49.5%

• Share of renter households: 54.2%

• Renter income growth: 29.8%

29. Athens, Georgia

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 18

• Average apartment size: 1,034

• Occupancy rate: 92.1%

• Share of new apartments: 22.5%

• Share of high-end apartments: 50.8%

• Share of renter households: 59.3%

• Renter income growth: 38.7%

30. Chattanooga, Tennessee

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 29

• Average apartment size: 949

• Occupancy rate: 91.2%

• Share of new apartments: 15.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 39.2%

• Share of renter households: 47.6%

• Renter income growth: 49.3%

31. Nashville, Tennessee

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 27

• Average apartment size: 874

• Occupancy rate: 91.3%

• Share of new apartments: 31.9%

• Share of high-end apartments: 60.9%

• Share of renter households: 47.6%

• Renter income growth: 28.5%

32. Tampa, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 52

• Average apartment size: 932

• Occupancy rate: 92.8%

• Share of new apartments: 12.9%

• Share of high-end apartments: 55.1%

• Share of renter households: 49.7%

• Renter income growth: 43.1%

33. Pensacola, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 26

• Average apartment size: 1,033

• Occupancy rate: 89.3%

• Share of new apartments: 21.6%

• Share of high-end apartments: 47.2%

• Share of renter households: 35.8%

• Renter income growth: 44.4%

34. Denton, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 6

• Average apartment size: 904

• Occupancy rate: 87.5%

• Share of new apartments: 32.3%

• Share of high-end apartments: 65.7%

• Share of renter households: 50%

• Renter income growth: 29%

35. Lafayette, Louisiana

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 51

• Average apartment size: 915

• Occupancy rate: 93.6%

• Share of new apartments: 11.6%

• Share of high-end apartments: 29.8%

• Share of renter households: 46.9%

• Renter income growth: 37.6%

36. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 92

• Average apartment size: 988

• Occupancy rate: 93.2%

• Share of new apartments: 23.7%

• Share of high-end apartments: 72.4%

• Share of renter households: 45.9%

• Renter income growth: 46.1%

37. Bradenton, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 12

• Average apartment size: 993

• Occupancy rate: 92.3%

• Share of new apartments: 22.7%

• Share of high-end apartments: 63.2%

• Share of renter households: 44%

• Renter income growth: 32.9%

38. Jacksonville, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 10

• Average apartment size: 988

• Occupancy rate: 90.8%

• Share of new apartments: 19.8%

• Share of high-end apartments: 59.8%

• Share of renter households: 42.4%

• Renter income growth: 27.2%

39. Conroe, Texas

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 5

• Average apartment size: 943

• Occupancy rate: 91.3%

• Share of new apartments: 24.7%

• Share of high-end apartments: 75.9%

• Share of renter households: 45.5%

• Renter income growth: 15.1%

40. Birmingham, Alabama

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 22

• Average apartment size: 967

• Occupancy rate: 90%

• Share of new apartments: 15%

• Share of high-end apartments: 52.1%

• Share of renter households: 54.5%

• Renter income growth: 27.4%

41. Daytona Beach, Florida

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 31

• Average apartment size: 934

• Occupancy rate: 89.6%

• Share of new apartments: 26.8%

• Share of high-end apartments: 45.9%

• Share of renter households: 52.5%

• Renter income growth: 51.6%

42. Richmond, Virginia

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 70

• Average apartment size: 854

• Occupancy rate: 92.7%

• Share of new apartments: 15.5%

• Share of high-end apartments: 40.3%

• Share of renter households: 56.5%

• Renter income growth: 47.1%

43. Lincoln, Nebraska

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 46

• Average apartment size: 934

• Occupancy rate: 95.1%

• Share of new apartments: 16.8%

• Share of high-end apartments: 47.5%

• Share of renter households: 43.9%

• Renter income growth: 28.2%

44. Murfreesboro, Tennessee

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 23

• Average apartment size: 987

• Occupancy rate: 94.3%

• Share of new apartments: 10.6%

• Share of high-end apartments: 67.6%

• Share of renter households: 47.6%

• Renter income growth: 30.4%

45. Savannah, Georgia

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 16

• Average apartment size: 980

• Occupancy rate: 92.5%

• Share of new apartments: 23.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 46.7%

• Share of renter households: 54.6%

• Renter income growth: 41.5%

46. Arlington, Virginia

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 131

• Average apartment size: 862

• Occupancy rate: 95.2%

• Share of new apartments: 11.9%

• Share of high-end apartments: 64.3%

• Share of renter households: 58.7%

• Renter income growth: 17%

47. Columbia, Missouri

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 57

• Average apartment size: 1,081

• Occupancy rate: 97.4%

• Share of new apartments: 4%

• Share of high-end apartments: 65.9%

• Share of renter households: 51.3%

• Renter income growth: 28.4%

48. Westminster, Colorado

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 75

• Average apartment size: 867

• Occupancy rate: 94.8%

• Share of new apartments: 15.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 59.4%

• Share of renter households: 38.1%

• Renter income growth: 32.5%

49. Minneapolis

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 50

• Average apartment size: 772

• Occupancy rate: 93.6%

• Share of new apartments: 21.2%

• Share of high-end apartments: 53.7%

• Share of renter households: 52.3%

• Renter income growth: 32%

50. Reno, Nevada

• Housing and cost of living rank (weight 50%): 86

• Average apartment size: 877

• Occupancy rate: 94.3%

• Share of new apartments: 21.9%

• Share of high-end apartments: 45.4%

• Share of renter households: 50.2%

• Renter income growth: 35.6%

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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