Rental Activity Report: Washington, D.C., Still in the Lead, With Midwest Matching South for Renter Interest

With spring approaching fast, many renters are ditching the winter blues and looking for their next happy place. But which cities saw the most interest from apartment hunters this month?

Washington, D.C., retains its #1 ranking this month as the most popular city for renters looking for apartments on RentCafe.com. Cincinnati secures the runner-up spot, followed by Chicago in third place.

Kansas City, MO, climbs two positions to land in fourth, with Atlanta dropping three spots to now settle in fifth place.

These five cities attracted the most renter interest on RentCafe.com, with users actively browsing listings and favoriting properties to find a new place to call home.

On a regional level, the South and Midwest are tied in terms of renter preferences, each with 11 cities in the top 30. The West claims six spots this month — up from four in January — while the Northeast finally ends its single-city streak, now boasting two cities on the list.

To take a closer look at the evolution of regional trends, check out January’s Rental Activity Report. For a broader perspective, explore our Year-End Activity Report.

Washington, D.C. is yet again the most sought-after city by renters

1. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., remains the top-ranked city for apartment-hunters for the fifth consecutive month, holding its position since October. This sustained popularity is evident in the 66% increase in favorited listings, indicating that prospective renters are weighing their options very carefully before deciding on an apartment that fits their criteria.

While online engagement saw a slight dip overall — with page views and saved searches down by 9% and 8% year-over-year, respectively — the nation’s capital remains in high demand for both local renters and apartment-hunters from Baltimore, New York City and Boston.

2. Cincinnati

Cincinnati climbed two spots to dethrone Atlanta as this month’s runner-up. Although saved searches have dropped by 38% year-over-year, the city continues to attract renter interest, as evidenced by the 14% increase in listings added to favorites. This suggests that apartment hunters are taking a more relaxed approach to finding their happy place, especially given the 39% increase in available listings.

Besides locals, apartment-seekers from Columbus, OH; Chicago; and Finneytown, OH, are showing increased interest in finding apartments in Cincinnati.

3. Chicago

Chicago — one of the hottest rental markets right now — surged nine positions, earning the bronze medal this month. Here, available listings have dropped 10% since this time last year, showing the increased competition in the area. Plus, a 19% drop in page views for Chicago apartments combined with an 18% decline in saved searches suggests that renters are clearly acting swiftly when looking for a new home.

That said, Chicago attracts plenty of renter interest from large cities like Phoenix and New York as well as apartment-seekers from the surrounding suburbs, including Wheaton, IL.

4. Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, MO, continues its ascent in the rankings, climbing another two positions since last month. That’s largely because renters favorited 23% more listings compared to this time last year amid a 7% decrease in apartment availability. This indicates that they are taking their time before committing to a lease in the City of Fountains.

Local renters are joined by apartment-hunters from Chicago; Kansas City, KS; and Dallas in their search for apartments in in KCMO.

5. Atlanta

Atlanta slid down three spots since January, now coming in at #5. While listings for apartments in Atlanta maintain strong online engagement overall (placing it very high among the cities analyzed), renters appear to be spending more time when perusing available options before committing to a lease that fits their needs. This explains the year-over-year decline in both favorited properties and saved searches.

That said, most interest for apartments in the city comes from Miami; New York City; and Sandy Springs, GA.

6. Columbus, OH

Columbus, OH, grew more popular since last month and now sits comfortably at #6. The city has experienced a 13% dip in available listings year-over-year, which indicates growing interest for apartments here. Plus, online engagement has also declined — as evidenced by a 6% drop in page views and a 19% decrease in saved searches — suggesting an increased sense of urgency for renters looking to secure a lease in the Arch City.

Apartment-hunters from large cities like Cleveland, Phoenix, and New York drive the most interest for rentals in Columbus.

7. Minneapolis

Once the #1 choice for apartment seekers, Minneapolis holds steady at #7. Significant year-over-year declines — 54% fewer saved searches and 37% fewer page views coupled with a 27% dip in listings added to favorites — suggest that renters are wasting no time in securing their happy place this month.

In February, the majority of renters considering an apartment in Minneapolis hail from Chicago; St. Paul, MN; and Dallas.

8. Overland Park, KS

Overland Park, KS, also retains its ranking this month, but the competition here is far from stagnant: Available listings are down 8% year-over-year, prompting renters to act fast to secure an apartment. This is evidenced by the 58% drop in saved searches, as well as decreases of 17% and 18% in listings added to favorites and page views, respectively.

The demand in Overland Park is fueled by apartment hunters hailing from Chicago; Kansas City, MO; and Kansas City, KS.

9. St. Paul, MN

After overtaking its Twin City of Minneapolis in January, St. Paul, MN, drops six spots to land at #9. Here, renters appear to be skipping some essential steps in their apartment search, as highlighted by the 21% decrease in page views and a 11% drop in saved searches.

This month, most interest in St. Paul rental apartments comes from those in Minneapolis, Chicago and Dallas.

10. Portland, OR

Finally, Portland, OR, made a notable leap, rising five spots since January to rejoin the top 10 for the first time in over a year. Despite a drop in online traffic, a significant 26% decline in saved searches suggests that apartment-hunters are very decisive, potentially skipping detailed searches and comparisons to quickly lock in their desired apartments.

Known as “Silicon Forest,” Portland’s growing appeal stems from its quality of life and tech job opportunities. This appeal is particularly strong among apartment-hunters from Seattle; Phoenix; and Gresham, OR, who are likely considering a move here.

The Midwest and South are neck-and-neck for the most in-demand region for renters

This month’s top 30 shows a tie between the Midwest and South, each securing 11 cities, making them the most sought-after regions in February. The West follows with six spots, while the Northeast breaks a long rut of one-city appearances by securing two cities on the list. However, a closer look at the top 10 reveals a stark regional contrast: The Midwest dominates with seven cities, while the South claims two and the West just one.

Leading in the Midwest is Cincinnati, which is also the national runner-up. Next up is Chicago (#2 in the Midwest and #3 in the U.S.), followed by Kansas City, MO (#3 regionally and #4 nationally); and Columbus, OH (#4 in the Midwest and #6 in the U.S.).

Also in the top 10 are Minneapolis (#5 in the region and #7 nationally); Overland Park, KS (#6 in the Midwest and #8 in the U.S.); and St. Paul, MN (#7 regionally and #9 in the nation).

Further down the list, Cleveland ranks eighth in the region and 15th in the U.S., with Grand Rapids, MI at #9 in the Midwest and at #18 nationally. Indianapolis secures 10th place in the region and 19th in the U.S., while Omaha, NE, is the last Midwestern city in the top 30, ranking 26th nationally.

Moving to the South, Washington, D.C., continues its reign at #1 both regionally and nationally. It’s followed by Atlanta (#2 regionally and #5 nationally), and two Florida cities: St. Petersburg (#3 in the South and #11 in the U.S.) and Tampa (#4 in the region and #12 nationally). Next up, Augusta, GA ranks 5th in the South and 16th in the U.S., alongside Louisville, KY (#6 in the region and #16 nationally); and Richmond, VA (#7 regionally #20 in the U.S.).

They are all followed by Knoxville, TN (#8 in the region and #23 nationally), and Virginia Beach, VA (#9 in the south and #27 in the U.S.). Finally, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Baltimore, MD, round out the top 30, with the former ranking 10th regionally and 29th nationally, while the latter ends up 11th in the South and 30th in the U.S.

In the West, Portland, OR, achieves the highest ranking and also ranks 10th nationally. It’s followed by Los Angeles (#2 in the region and #13 in the U.S.) and Las Vegas (#3 in the West and #14 in the nation). San Jose, CA, makes the highest leap this month, soaring a whopping 67 spots to rank 21st in the U.S. and 4th in the region. It’s followed by Sacramento, CA (#5 in the West and #22 nationally). Next, Stockton, CA, also surges 55 positions to now rank 28th in the U.S. and 6th regionally.

Finally, the Northeast features two entries in the top 30 this month: The Bronx, NY (which ranks 24th nationally) and Philadelphia hot on its heels at #25 in the U.S.

Meet the newcomers: 5 cities join the rankings this month

Our February ranking of the top 30 most in-demand cities for renters welcomes five new entries — one from the Northeast and the rest evenly split between the South and West.

Leading the newcomers is San Jose, CA, which has skyrocketed 67 positions to now rank 21st nationally. Then, after a 57-spot jump comes The Bronx, NY, showcasing a 27% decrease in listings added to favorites and 40% fewer saved searches — clear signs of growing interest in this New York borough.

Stockton, CA, rose by 55 spots compared to one year ago, fueled by a 13% increase in favorited listings. Following closely is Fort Lauderdale, FL, which moved up four positions, likely due to a 41% drop in favorited listings and 45% fewer saved searches, suggesting that renters have become more decisive.

Finally, Baltimore, MD, rounds out the top 30 after climbing one spot, due to a 21% decrease in available listings, meaning renters have fewer options to choose from.

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.

Beginning in August 2023, the city that obtained the highest total score was awarded 100 points and all total scores of the following cities were adjusted accordingly.

To calculate each city’s score, we ranked them according to four metrics and their averages as of the most current month in 2025 versus the same month in 2024.

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 month 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 monthly page views for the most recent month 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 monthly rental listings added to favorites at the city level for the most current month 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 monthly saved searches at the city level for the most current month 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.

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