Which are the most sought-after cities entering summer 2026? The West leads for the first time

The peak rental season is right around the corner and renters are already eyeing their next move ahead of the busy summer months. The West emerged as the leading region for renter interest for the first time in the series’ history and Minneapolis is reclaiming the top spot as the most sought-after city by apartment hunters in the early 2026 rental season, according to RentCafe.com search data.

Renters across the country are getting more deliberate in their apartment search — browsing listings, saving their favorites and setting up searches tailored to what matters most to them. At the same time, many are also taking a more thoughtful approach to the process overall, by focusing on apartments in cities driven by strong job markets and major economic investments.

One of the biggest shifts in this edition is that the West is the most popular region for renters for the first time in over a year, with 11 cities in the top-30 — the most of any region this quarter. The South follows with nine top 30 markets, while the Midwest counts seven and the Northeast rounds out the ranking with three.

Need more context? Revisit our reports on the top trending cities to watch in 2026 and our third-quarter analysis in 2025 to see how renter interest has evolved.

Minneapolis is the most sought-after city by renters in the first quarter of 2026 

1. Minneapolis, MN

Of the 150 cities we tracked, renters showed more interest in Minneapolis than anywhere else — saving searches and adding listings to favorites at a higher rate. As a result, the city takes first place, climbing two spots from the third spot in the last quarter of 2025 to become the most sought-after city for apartment hunters in the country.   

• The city ranks 29th for total page views.  

• Listings added to favorites grew by 10% compared to last year. 

• Saved searches jumped by 35%. 

This city’s appeal lies in its strong job market anchored by major employers in healthcare, finance and tech (such as UnitedHealth, Target and Best Buy), combined with the Upper Harbor Redevelopment project, which is drawing in more renters. 

Most renter engagement for Minneapolis listings comes from Chicago, as well as Dallas and Philadelphia.

2. Atlanta, GA

Atlanta has held firm at #2 for the second consecutive quarter, cementing its place as one of the most reliably sought-after rental markets in the country. The city also ranks first nationally for listings added to favorites, reflecting a deep, sustained interest that goes beyond browsing. Even with some softening in other engagement metrics, Atlanta still ranks fifth nationally for changes in availability, a sign that the market remains highly active and that supply is working hard to keep pace with renter interest. 

• The city ranks first for total listings added to favorites.  

• Atlanta ranks 39th for total page views.  

• The city ranks second for total saved searches.  

Atlanta’s consistency across multiple quarters speaks to its broad appeal for renters relocating from across the country. The city has seen explosive growth in its tech and film/entertainment sectors and its relatively low cost of living compared to other major Southern metros continues to attract both domestic and corporate relocations. 

Atlanta apartments attracted the most engagement from renters in the state, as well as from New York City and San Francisco.

3. Miami, FL

Miami makes its first-ever appearance in the top five of this report series, after surging 24 positions from #27 all the way to #3 — the largest upward move among all top-five cities this quarter. The city ranks first nationally for most page views, meaning more apartment hunters were browsing Miami listings than anywhere else in the country and saved searches more than doubled. 

• Page views increased by 18%. 

• Saved searches jumped by 102%. 

Miami’s surge likely reflects ongoing in-migration from the Northeast and continued interest from remote workers and finance/tech professionals. Additionally, the city’s international appeal, warm climate and the post-pandemic shift of financial firms to South Florida have sustained elevated demand. 

Top activity for this city came from apartment hunters in San Francisco, along with New York City and Atlanta.

4. Oakland, CA

Renter interest in Oakland is growing fast, with the city posting remarkable engagement numbers in the country this quarter. Specifically, page views ranked third nationally, while saved searches climbed 50% year over year — a clear indicator that apartment hunters are seriously considering moving to this California market. 

• Page views increased by 24%. 

• Listings added to favorites grew by 26%. 

• Saved searches jumped by 50%. 

Oakland benefits from spillover from San Francisco, as renters seek Bay Area access at more affordable price points. Plus, as remote and hybrid work arrangements normalize, renters are less obligated to live close to city offices and are choosing Oakland’s lifestyle and amenities instead. 

Most engagement came from San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, CA.

5. Spokane, WA

Spokane has seen an impressive surge in renter activity, with the city reaching the second-highest page view ranking in the country this quarter — a strong signal that apartment hunters are actively exploring what this Pacific Northwest market has to offer.  

• Page views increased by 21%. 

• Saved searches remained steady.  

The city’s growing appeal among cost-conscious renters from Seattle and other Pacific markets has steadily elevated its profile. At the same time, its growing health care and education sectors provide employment stability and it also sits within reasonable driving distance of outdoor recreation. 

Top traffic came from Seattle and San Jose, CA. 

6. The Bronx, NY 

Renters are paying closer attention to the Bronx, with the number of properties added to favorites more than doubling since last quarter. The borough also posted the tightest rental inventory of any market tracked this last quarter, revealing strong, sustained demand. That combination of growing interest and limited availability pushed the Bronx up 34 positions to break into the top 10 for the first time. 

• Listings added to favorites grew by 110%. 

• Saved searches increased by 15%. 

• Page views fell by 3%. 

Renters drawn to New York City’s outer boroughs as a more accessible alternative to Manhattan continued pushing Bronx engagement higher, attracting renters who want New York City access without paying a premium. 

Most renter engagement came from within New York City and Boston.

7. Long Beach, CA

Long Beach continues to resonate with apartment hunters, earning a top-10 spot for the second consecutive quarter. Here, saved searches climbed 22% year over year and page views ticked up modestly. Both are signs that renters aren’t just passing through on their search, but are returning to Long Beach as a serious contender. 

• The city ranks 12th for total page views. 

• Saved searches jumped by 22%. 

• Listings added to favorites remained steady. 

Long Beach continues to benefit from Los Angeles’ overflowing rental demand. Namely, it offers proximity to the L.A. job market and a walkable downtown, while its port-driven economy also provides stable local employment. 

Top engagement came from Los Angeles as well as from San Francisco and Las Vegas.

8. Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati may have slipped from last quarter’s top spot, but the city’s renter engagement remains among the strongest in the country. Listings added to favorites rank sixth nationally and saved searches rank seventh, signaling that renters are still strongly considering moving to this city. Plus, while the number of available listings is on the rise, that could mean more options to choose from for renters eyeing Cincinnati in the quarters ahead. 

• The city ranks sixth for listings added to favorites. 

• Cincinnati ranks seventh for saved searches. 

Even after slipping from #1, Cincinnati’s fundamental strengths remain — a growing tech and startup ecosystem, affordable housing relative to coastal peers and a high quality of life. What’s more, its consistent top 10 presence throughout the quarters reflects durable, long-term demand rather than a one-quarter spike. 

Top traffic to Cincinnati came from Columbus, Chicago and San Francisco.

9. Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee’s renters are becoming more deliberate with searches, pushing the city higher up in the ranking. Its page views soared 15% year over year and saved searches climbed 27%, reflecting a wave of renters newly discovering what this Great Lakes city has to offer. 

• Page views increased by 15%. 

• Saved searches grew by 27%. 

• Listings added to favorites fell by 14%. 

The city likely benefited from relocating renters priced out of Chicago and looking for Great Lakes city living at a fraction of the cost. Meanwhile, ongoing investment in the local AI data center, as well as a medical facility, are bolstering the local job market, while ongoing improvements — such as an extended Riverwalk and upgraded transit stops — are also making it more visible to apartment hunters. 

Most engagement came from major cities like Chicago, Dallas and New York City.

10. Baltimore, MD

Firmly establishing itself as one of the country’s most consistently sought-after rental markets, Baltimore holds a top-10 position for the second consecutive quarter. Renters here are engaging frequently with the city’s listings: The number of page views rank fourth nationally and listings added to favorites rank fifth, reflecting genuine, sustained interest, rather than passing curiosity. 

• Page views increased by 19%. 

• Listings added to favorites grew by 163%. 

• Saved searches remained steady since last quarter. 

Baltimore’s appeal is closely tied to its proximity to Washington, D.C. and strong anchor institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Medical System. And, because the capital’s cost of living remains high and remote/hybrid work expands the viable commute radius, more workers are considering Baltimore as an alternative. 

Top engagement came from Washington, D.C., as well as from New York City and San Francisco. 

Meet the newcomers: 10 new cities enter this quarter’s rankings 

This quarter’s top 30 looks significantly different from last quarter’s, with 10 cities making their way into the rankings for the first time this year. The reasons vary: First, renters are gravitating towards established job centers and lifestyle destinations like Los Angeles, Dallas and Anaheim, CA. At the same time, a surge of economic investment is putting cities like Milwaukee and Newark, NJ, on the radar of apartment hunters who may not have considered them before.  

Of these newcomers, five are from the West, as the region surges to the top of the ranking for the first time in at least a year. Meanwhile, regarding the other newcomers, two are from the South, two from the Northeast and one is from the Midwest: 

• The Bronx, NY — #6 in the U.S. and #1 in the Northeast 

• Milwaukee — #9 nationally and #3 in the Midwest 

• Newark, NJ — #14 in the U.S. and #2 in the Northeast 

• San Bernardino, CA — #17 nationally and #5 in the West 

• Tacoma, WA — #20 in the U.S. and #7 in the West 

• Tucson, AZ — #22 nationally and #8 in the West 

• Dallas — #23 in the U.S. and #7 in the South 

• Los Angeles — #25 nationally and #10 in the West 

• Anaheim, CA — #28 in the U.S. and #11 in the West 

• Amarillo, TX — #29 nationally and #9 in the South

Leading the newcomers this quarter is Milwaukee, which skyrocketed 56 positions to #9. Here, page views were up 15%, while saved searches increased by 27%. Clearly, renters are rediscovering what Brew City has to offer, drawn by a wave of major economic investments and a growing job market. 

Close behind, the Bronx, NY, surged 34 positions to break into the top 10 at #6. Its number of listings added to favorites more than doubled and the borough also posted the tightest rental inventory of any market tracked this quarter — a powerful combination that speaks to both rising demand and a highly active renter pool. 

Nearby, Newark, NJ, also made one of the quarter’s most notable climbs, after jumping 43 positions to #14. In this case, strong page view growth and rising saved searches signal that renters are increasingly treating Newark as a serious destination in its own right, as opposed to simply a gateway to New York City. 

On the West Coast, San Bernardino, CA; Los Angeles and Anaheim, CA, all re-entered or broke into the top 30, landing at #17, #25 and #28 respectively. Despite each city seeing year-over-year decreases in page views or listings added to favorites, renter interest remains strong across the Southern California market likely driven by return-to-office mandates and lower cost of living in the case of San Bernardino and Anaheim. 

In the Sun Belt, Dallas and Amarillo, TX, both climbed back into the top 30, rising 12 and 18 positions to #23 and #29, respectively. Specifically, Dallas saw saved searches jump 23% year over year, in a sign of renters getting serious about one of the South’s strongest job markets. Likewise, Amarillo posted steady page view growth, pointing to quietly building interest in this West Texas market. 

Finally, Tacoma, WA, and Tucson, AZ, round out the newcomers list with strong performances of their own. Tacoma rose 19 positions to #20, as renters look beyond Seattle for Pacific Northwest options with employment opportunities. Not to be outdone, Tucson surged 59 positions to #22, with listings added to favorites up 11% and saved searches climbing 14%, pointing to growing and sustained interest in this Arizona market. 

The West is the most in-demand region among renters

The West leads all regions in the first quarter of 2026, overtaking the South and Midwest — which have historically traded the top regional spot — by placing 11 cities in the top 30 national ranking. The shift in renter interest toward Western cities is likely driven by return-to-office mandates from major tech companies in hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, along with renters looking for more affordable options, fueling spillover into smaller markets such as Oakland, CA or Long Beach, CA.

Meanwhile, the South follows with nine top 30 cities. Otherwise, the Midwest places seven cities and the Northeast places three.

West 

The West dominates for the first time in over a year, with cities spanning the Pacific Coast and the Mountain region, from Oakland and Long Beach in California to Spokane in Washington and Tucson in Arizona. Oakland and Spokane anchored the West’s top-30 presence as its two highest-ranking cities. 

 

South 

The South claims nine cities in the top 30, with markets spread across the East Coast and deep into Texas. In this region, Atlanta and Miami lead the showing as its two highest-ranking cities, both maintaining their positions among the top three nationally for the second consecutive quarter. 

Midwest 

Seven Midwest cities are in the top 30, led by Minneapolis at #1 nationally. As such, the region remains one of the most consistently represented areas in the national rankings, in example of steady and widespread renter interest across the area.

Northeast 

Last, but not least, the Northeast has three cities in the top 30, with the Bronx, NY, making a dramatic debut and Newark, NJ, posting one of the quarter’s biggest gains. 

Methodology

RentCafe.com is a nationwide apartment search website that enables renters to easily find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

To compile this report, the research team analyzed RentCafe.com’s rental listing data across the 150 largest cities by population in the contiguous U.S. with a relevant listing inventory sample. The regions are defined according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The cities were ranked based on a city-level rental activity score. Full points were awarded to the most desirable city for a particular metric, while the zero-point level was set slightly below the worst city’s value. Cities that lacked sufficient information regarding specific metrics were awarded zero points.

To calculate each city’s score, we ranked them according to four metrics and their averages as of the most current quarter in 2026 versus the same quarter in 2025.

1. Availability rate (Maximum score: 40 points)

The availability rate score was calculated by dividing the total vacant units at the city level for the most recent quarter by the total units and a year-over-year comparison of the same. The lowest rate received maximum points.

2. Page views (Maximum score: 30 points)

The page views score was calculated as the total number of page views for the most recent quarter at the city level divided by the total renter population in the city and a year-over-year comparison of the same. Page views are defined as a unique user interaction on a specific page in a 30-minute window.

3. Favorites (Maximum score: 15 points)

The favorites score was calculated as the total rental listings added to favorites at the city level for the most current quarter divided by the total renter population in the city and a year-over-year comparison of the same. A favorite is defined as a rental listing saved to favorites by a website visitor.

4. Saved searches (Maximum score: 15 points)

The saved searches score was calculated as the total number of saved searches at the city level for the most current quarter divided by the total renter population in the city and a year-over-year comparison of the same. A saved search is defined as a filtered/personalized apartment search saved by a website visitor.

Fair use and redistribution

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