Canada Renter Interest Report: Moncton, NB, holds #1 spot in Q1 2026, Windsor, ON, joins top 10

Moncton, NB, holds the top spot in our Canada renter interest ranking for the third straight quarter as renter demand snapped back from the winter lull. The Q1 Canada renter interest report highlights a broader shift in demand toward mid-sized cities, with Ontario placing three cities in the top 10 and Windsor recording the largest single-quarter jump on record.

In the first months of 2026, the rental story split in two. With home prices still elevated and rents on newly signed leases slipping across most major metros (according to Yardi data), vacancy rose and engagement softened in big-city markets, while smaller and mid-sized cities saw availability tighten and competition heat up among apartment-seekers.

To determine which rental markets attracted the most attention, we reviewed millions of renter interactions on RentCafe.com during the first quarter of 2026. We ranked cities based on four main indicators of renter activity:

• available listings
• listing views
• apartments saved as favourites
• saved personalized searches

The first quarter of 2026 shook up the back half of the list of Canada’s most in-demand rental markets. Moncton, NB, ranked #1 nationally, retaining its lead in our Canada Renter Interest Report. Hamilton, ON, held #2, while Kingston, ON, recorded the strongest comeback among returning markets — climbing eight positions to claim the #3 spot.

Further west, Halifax, NS, slipped one position to #4 and Winnipeg, MB, climbed three places to round out the top five.

This points to renter demand extending well beyond Canada’s largest cities in the first quarter, with smaller and mid-sized markets seeing the strongest apartment search activity.

Moncton, NB, claims top spot for 3rd quarter running

Moncton, NB, held onto its position as Canada’s top rental market in Q1 2026, leading the ranking for the third straight quarter with a perfect score of 100.00. Three indicators tell the story:

• Page views climbed 14% year-over-year, bucking the national trend of double-digit declines in browsing activity across most major metros.
• Listing availability dropped 40% year-over-year as renters snatched up units faster than property managers could relist them.
• Saved searches edged up 7%, signaling that more apartment hunters — including out-of-province movers — are keeping tabs on Moncton.

These trends highlight Moncton’s ongoing appeal, supported by its relative affordability, quality of life and economic growth. New Brunswick’s domestic migration remained positive in 2025 and Moncton’s diversifying employment base continues to attract renters from larger Eastern markets.

Aside from locals, the most interest in apartments in Moncton comes from renters in Dieppe, NB; Montréal; and Halifax, NS.

Vancouver, BC, stays in top 10 while Edmonton, AB, drops out

Renter activity across Canada’s largest cities was uneven in Q1 2026. Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Edmonton and Calgary remained in high demand, but engagement softened across much of this group. Instead, many renters seeking affordability and better opportunities are now focusing on smaller and mid-sized cities.

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver remains among Canada’s most-watched rental markets, ranking #8 nationally with a score of 56.83. The city slipped one position from Q4 2025, but the underlying picture points to a tightening market, rather than a cooling one.

• Availability fell 40% year-over-year — the steepest decline among Canada’s largest cities — pointing to a sharp tightening in rental supply.
• Page views declined 47%, with renters making fewer browsing visits in a softening market.
• Favourited listings decreased 42% and saved searches fell 42%, a broad pullback across all engagement metrics rather than a sign of urgency.

Across all four engagement metrics, year-over-year declines of similar magnitude (40–47%) suggest renters pulled back rather than moved faster — a pattern more consistent with softening demand and tighter household budgets than with a fast-moving search cycle.

Edmonton, AB

Edmonton ranks #12 nationally with a score of 51.78, slipping out of the top 10 after holding a spot there for several consecutive quarters. The city remains a key rental market in Western Canada, although renter engagement softened year-over-year.

• Page views declined 55% and favourited listings fell 25%, suggesting that renters have become more selective in their search.
• Saved searches decreased 51% with fewer renters actively tracking listings.

Even with these declines, Edmonton remains a top destination for renters seeking more affordable alternatives in Western Canada. Besides locals, most renter interest in apartments in Edmonton comes from Calgary and Vancouver.

Toronto, ON

Toronto fell four positions to now rank #16 nationally with a score of 45.66. The city continues to attract many apartment-hunters, but engagement levels softened compared to the same time last year.

• Page views declined 58% year-over-year, indicating reduced browsing activity as renters narrow searches more quickly.
• Favourited listings fell 49%, reflecting more selective renter behaviour.
• Saved searches dropped 58%, suggesting fewer renters actively monitoring listings over time.

Toronto’s slide reflects the national cooling pattern highlighted by Yardi data this quarter — driven by declining population growth, a weak labour market and reduced affordability. Rent on existing leases grew just 2.4% year-over-year, while new leases fell 2.6% and apartment deliveries — though still the country’s largest by volume — were down 5.4% over the same period.

Calgary, AB

Calgary slipped five positions to rank #20 nationally with a score of 41.45. Online activity cooled as new supply gave renters more options.

• Availability rose 13% year-over-year — the largest increase among Canada’s biggest cities — as a wave of recently completed apartment buildings put new units on the market.
• Page views fell 58%, reflecting a slower pace of apartment searches.
• Favourited listings dropped 35% and saved searches fell 58%, as renters faced less urgency in a market with more available apartments.

Following a period of strong momentum, renter interest in Calgary appears to have softened. Even so, the city continues to attract apartment-hunters seeking lower costs and a stable local economy relative to other large Canadian markets.

Montréal, QC

Montréal ranked #25 with a score of 13.18 to sit at the bottom of the national ranking as renter activity continued to ease year-over-year.

• Page views fell 72% year-over-year — a significant drop in browsing activity.
• Favourited listings declined 54%, reflecting more limited interaction with available units.
• Saved searches decreased 61%, signifying fewer renters actively tracking listings over time.

Many Montréalers appear to be staying put longer in a market with relatively stable rental patterns. The result is lower overall engagement than most other major Canadian cities, even though Montréal posted the second-highest in-place rent growth in the country at 3.7% year-over-year — only surpassed by Halifax, according to Yardi data.

Punching above their weight: Smaller cities in national spotlight

Several smaller and mid-sized cities continued to outperform expectations for renter interest. With tight availability and steady engagement, these markets remain strong alternatives to Canada’s largest urban centres for renters who prioritize affordability and a quicker path from search to lease.

Hamilton, ON

Hamilton claims the #2 spot nationally with a score of 82.42, retaining the strong position it claimed last quarter. Renter activity in Hamilton remains anchored by spillover demand from the Greater Toronto–Hamilton Area (GTHA).

• Favourited listings increased 174% year-over-year, signaling exceptionally strong renter intent.
• Page views rose 11% with more renters actively browsing Hamilton listings.
• Availability declined 14% with fewer units listed as competition intensified.

Hamilton’s strong showing is largely driven by renters looking beyond the GTHA for more affordable options. A stable job base and rents well below Toronto’s continue to make the city an appealing choice for renters — a story backed up by Yardi data, with Hamilton one of only three Canadian cities where rents on new leases rose year-over-year in Q1 2026.

Interest in apartments in Hamilton comes from renters in Toronto; Oakville, ON; and Mississauga, ON.

Victoria, BC

Victoria held #6 nationally with a score of 60.31, supported by sustained engagement on the saved-search side.

• Saved searches rose 30% year-over-year, pointing to continued intent to track available units over time.
• Page views declined 26% and favourites fell 20% in a sign that renters are converting interest into action faster.

Renters continue to be drawn to Victoria’s climate and proximity to Vancouver, further reinforcing its position as a popular smaller rental market in Western Canada.

Winnipeg, MB

Winnipeg climbed three positions to rank #5 nationally with a score of 68.32 and return to the top half of the rankings.

• Availability rose 8% year-over-year, but supply in Winnipeg is among the tightest of major Canadian cities at just 3.5%, according to Yardi.
• Page views declined 50% and favourites fell 42%, though Winnipeg still ranked #1 nationally for total favourites per renter household.

Winnipeg attracts strong interest from local renters and apartment-seekers in Toronto; Calgary; and Saskatoon, SK.

Stepping up: Cities making biggest leaps this quarter

Select cities outside of Canada’s usual rental hotspots saw significant gains in renter interest this quarter with Windsor and Kingston leading the surge.

Windsor, ON

Windsor recorded the largest jump by climbing 13 positions to break into the top 10 at #10 overall with a score of 54.80. The move marks Windsor’s first appearance in the national top 10 in five quarters.

• Availability declined 72% year-over-year, which was, by far, the steepest supply tightening among all cities tracked, as a smaller pool of listings increased urgency.
• Page views fell 45% — a sign that fewer browsing visits were producing more decisive renter behaviour.

Windsor’s surge points to renewed demand in Canada’s southernmost market in our ranking. Relatively low rents continue to anchor the local rental market. Still, a 72% drop in available listings is unusually steep — it might mean landlords are pulling units off the market rather than renters snapping them up faster.

Renter interest in Windsor came primarily from local searches and Toronto.

Kingston, ON

Kingston climbed eight positions to reach #3 overall with a score of 79.15 in one of the strongest comebacks of the past year.

• Saved searches surged 87% year-over-year, signaling renewed commitment from apartment-seekers tracking the market over time.
• Availability declined 13%, tightening the listing pool.
• Page views fell 27% and favourites declined 32%, but Kingston ranked #2 nationally for saved searches, pointing to strong renter intent.

Kingston’s rebound reflects renewed momentum in Eastern Ontario. Here, enrollment at Queen’s University, stable public-sector jobs and relative affordability compared to Ottawa and Toronto continue to attract renters. Most interest in Kingston comes primarily from local searches, along with renters from Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal.

Oshawa, ON, & Gatineau, QC

Oshawa moved up five spots to #14 with a score of 47.75, supported by stronger engagement with favourited listings. Gatineau also climbed five places to #15 with a score of 45.96 as favourites engagement rose sharply alongside Ottawa-area demand.

Cooling off: Where renter interest softened

Early 2026 also brought a shift toward more selective renter activity in several markets following a strong run in 2025. The pullback was most noticeable in Ontario with Barrie, Kitchener and Toronto all dropping in the rankings.

These changes in renter behaviour reflect broader market conditions outlined in the latest Yardi Canadian National Multifamily Report. The national average vacancy rate climbed to 5.1% in Q1 2026, up 60 basis points from the previous quarter and 110 basis points year-over-year. Additionally, the annual average turnover rose to 25.8%, suggesting that market pressure is continuing to ease as new supply begins to catch up with demand.

Barrie, ON

Barrie dropped seven positions to rank #24 nationally with a score of 26.83, marking the steepest decline among the 25 cities tracked.

• Availability rose 50% year-over-year, widening the listing pool.
• Page views and favourites both declined sharply with many renters exploring options elsewhere in central Ontario.

Barrie’s drop is consistent with broader cooling trends across GTA-commuter markets in early 2026 as new supply outpaced renter demand.

Kitchener, ON

Kitchener fell six positions to rank #19 with a score of 42.32, giving back much of last quarter’s gain.

• Availability rose 54% year-over-year — a significant supply expansion.
• Page views declined 35% and favourites fell 13%, although saved-search activity remained elevated.

Kitchener benefits from the Tri-Cities’ strong job base and proximity to the GTHA. As supply rises, the local market is becoming more balanced for renters.

Saskatoon, SK

Saskatoon fell five spots to #9 with a score of 55.61. While it remains in the top 10, supply in Saskatoon rose sharply year-over-year (up 78%), giving renters more options and easing competition.

Provincial overview: Ontario takes lead

Looking at the provincial breakdown, Ontario stands out in Q1 2026 with the highest number of cities in the top 10 — Hamilton (#2), Kingston (#3) and Windsor (#10). British Columbia and Saskatchewan each placed two cities (Victoria/Vancouver and Regina/Saskatoon, respectively), while New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Manitoba each contributed one (Moncton, Halifax and Winnipeg).

Notably, Alberta did not place any cities in the top 10 for the first time in more than a year. Edmonton (#12) and Calgary (#20) eased as new supply caught up. According to Yardi data, both cities now have Canada’s highest apartment vacancy rates, even as Alberta posted one of the country’s strongest interprovincial migration rates last year.

Methodology

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

To compile this report, the research team analysed RentCafe.com’s rental listing data across 25 Canadian cities with a relevant listing inventory sample. The regions are defined according to Statistics Canada.

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

The city with the highest total score was awarded 100 points and all other cities’ total scores were adjusted accordingly.

To score each city, we tracked year-over-year changes across four metrics, ranked the cities based on those results and tracked how each city’s position changed from the previous quarter.

1. Availability rate (Maximum score: 40 points)

The availability rate score was calculated by dividing the total vacant units at the city level for first quarter of 2026 by the total units and a quarter-over-quarter 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 during the first quarter of 2026 at the city level divided by the total renter population in the city and a quarter-over-quarter comparison of the same. Page views are defined as a unique visitor interaction on a specific page in a 30-minute window.

3. Favourites (Maximum score: 15 points)

The favourites score was calculated as the total rental listings added to favourites at the city level for the first quarter of 2026 divided by the total renter population in the city and a quarter-over-quarter comparison of the same. A favourite is defined as a rental listing saved to favourites 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 first quarter of 2026 divided by the total renter population in the city and a quarter-over-quarter comparison of the same. A saved search is defined as a filtered/personalized apartment search saved by a website visitor.

Fair use & redistribution

We encourage and freely grant you permission to reuse, host, or repost the research, graphics and images presented in this article. When doing so, we kindly ask that you credit our research by linking to RentCafe.com or this page so that your readers can learn more about this project, the research behind it and its methodology. For more in-depth, customized data, please contact us at media@rentcafe.com.