Rental Activity Report: Detroit Takes the Crown, South Is Renters’ Preferred Region

• Detroit sees meteoric rise as renters’ preferred city this month.
• The South is the most in-demand region for renters in September with 11 entries. 
• Hialeah, FL, makes an unexpected comeback in the top 30 after being absent for more than a year. 

Although the rental season is winding down, apartment-seekers are still on the prowl across the U.S. But, which cities are the most in-demand among renters this month?

After an unexpected climb, Detroit claims the top position as the most sought-after city for renters in search of apartments on RentCafe.com in September. Following in second place is Washington, D.C. with online engagement showing steadfast interest in the nation’s capital. Next, Minneapolis — which previously held the first position — got bumped to the third spot by Detroit’s big surge.

Then, coming in fourth is Atlanta, which dropped one position since August, while Cleveland holds steady in fifth place this month.

These cities are drawing substantial attention on RentCafe.com as renters browse listings, mark favorites and search actively amid dwindling apartment availability.

Meanwhile, a closer look at regional trends reveals an evolving pattern: The South has overtaken the West in popularity, attracting the most interest from renters with 11 entries in the top 30 most sought-after cities — a significant shift from last year, when the Midwest held the title of most coveted region by renters during the same month. The West follows with nine spots on the list, while the Midwest secures eight cities. Finally, the Northeast is represented by two cities this month.

To gain deeper insights into how regional markets have shifted so far in 2024, check out our July and August rental activity reports.

Detroit soars to the top as renters’ preferred choice this month

1. Detroit 

Securing the coveted top spot this month is Detroit, thanks to a notable surge in online engagement. Here, page views increased by 16% compared to last year as available listings dropped by 38%, reflecting a growing interest in apartments in Detroit.

This is likely due to Detroit’s efforts to revitalize its business district, as well as increase its number of downtown apartments, thereby drawing renters attracted by Motor City’s affordability and emerging economic opportunities.

2. Washington, D.C.

Landing in second place, Washington, D.C. also experienced an uptick in renters interested in the perks that the capital has to offer. This is reflected in the 6% decrease in available apartments in Washington, D.C., despite a dip in online engagement.

Nevertheless, Washington, D.C.’s high quality of life — as well as its access to excellent health care options and higher education opportunities help — the city maintain its position as a highly desirable location for renters.

3. Minneapolis

Minneapolis drops to third place this month after experiencing a slowdown in online engagement with page views down 18% compared to last year and fewer renters favoriting listings.

Despite the dip in engagement, there hasn’t been an increase in available apartments in Minneapolis. In fact, listings for available rentals have decreased by 14%. This suggests that the city continues to draw interest, primarily from local renters, but also from apartment-hunters currently based in Chicago or Dallas.

4. Atlanta

Atlanta drops two positions since last month to settle in fourth place in September. Again, despite a dip in online activity, apartment availability remained unchanged. This suggests that, while fewer renters are actively searching for apartments in Atlanta, interest remains high.

Overall, Atlanta’s rental market remains balanced, drawing attention from both local renters and those from New York City, Chicago and Miami.

5. Cleveland

Maintaining its position in fifth place this month, Cleveland experienced a moderate decrease in online engagement compared to one year prior. However, apartment availability dropped by 7%, which shows that the rental market is still competitive.

Along with strong demand from local renters, those from Chicago; Columbus, OH; and New York City are showing the most interest in apartments in Cleveland.

6. Philadelphia

In sixth place, apartments in Philadelphia saw an increase in renter interest compared to August. Specifically, page views rose by 10%, with listings dwindling by 2%, signaling that the city remains appealing to renters.

Consequently, Philadelphia’s steady demand keeps its rental market competitive, even with a decline in more active engagement.

7. Fayetteville, NC

Fayetteville, NC, is the seventh-most-coveted city for renters in September after soaring 10 positions since last month. This is evidenced by a 7% drop in available rentals in Fayetteville, which reflects the city’s steady appeal to prospective renters.

Besides local renters, most of those showing online interest in this North Carolina haven come from Atlanta and Charlotte, NC — a testament to the city’s small-town aesthetic as an appealing alternative.

8. Winston-Salem, NC

Ranking eighth, Winston-Salem, NC, experienced one of the sharpest declines in apartment availability: Listings dropped by 43% compared to last year, indicating that the rental market remains tight with fewer available units.

While online engagement has cooled down a bit, renters are still showing interest in this North Carolina spot and driving enough demand to reduce availability significantly.

9. Chicago

Chicago settles in ninth place after dropping two spots since last month. Despite a slight dip in renter interest, the rental market here has tightened with a 10% decrease in available listings.

That said, the Windy City continues to draw enough demand to reduce available units. Notably, apartments in Chicago are in high demand with both local renters and those coming from New York City, Dallas and Los Angeles.

10. Cincinnati

Rounding out the top 10 is another Ohio city — Cincinnati — which saw a 5% increase in apartment availability. The city continues to attract attention from renters from Columbus and Chicago, along with those from the Queen City itself.

Even after a cooling in online engagement, renting in Cincinnati remains highly desirable for those looking for spacious apartments without breaking the bank.

The South overtakes the West as renters’ most sought-after region this month

In September, the South is the most sought-after region for renters with 11 cities on the list. The West follows closely with nine cities, while the Midwest secures eight spots. Last, but not least, the Northeast rounds out the rankings with two cities (up from just one last month).

In the South, Washington, D.C. takes the spotlight, ranking second nationwide, followed by Atlanta (#4 nationwide) and two North Carolina destinations — Fayetteville (#3 in the region and #7 in the U.S.) and Winston-Salem (#4 in the region and #8 in the U.S.).

Other sought-after Southern rental hubs in the top 30 include Louisville, KY (#5 in the region and #11 in the U.S.); Orlando, FL (#6 in the region and #16 in the U.S.); and Tampa, FL, which surged 27 positions to land at #21 in the U.S., while regionally it claims #7. Then, Richmond, VA, ranks eighth regionally and 24th in the U.S., with Greensboro, NC, (#9 in the South and #27 in the U.S.) following close behind.

Climbing an impressive 57 spots since last month, Hialeah, FL, is 10th in the region and 29th nationwide. Jacksonville, FL, closes out the list at #30, while regionally it ranks 11th.

Turning to the Midwest, Detroit claims the #1 spot overall, standing strong as the region's most in-demand city for renters. Last month’s most-coveted city in the U.S., Minneapolis, now ranks second in the region and third nationwide. It's followed by Cleveland (#3 in the Midwest and #5 in the U.S.); Chicago (#4 in the region and #9 in the U.S.); and Cincinnati (#5 in the region and #10 in the U.S.).

Other popular cities in this region include Indianapolis (#6 in the Midwest and #14 nationwide); Overland Park, KS (#7 regionally and #22 in the U.S.); and Kansas City, MO (#8 in the region and #26 nationwide).

Although the West has slightly fewer cities in the top 30 compared to last month, it remains an attractive region to many renters. Namely, Los Angeles leads the pack at #12 nationwide, while Vancouver, WA, rises two spots to #13 nationally and #2 in the region.

Not far behind, San Jose, CA, lands at #3 in the West and #15 in the U.S. after jumping 34 spots since last month, whereas Reno, NV, climbs 26 positions to #17 nationwide and #4 in the region. They're followed by three California destinations — Long Beach at #5 in the region and #19 in the U.S.; Sacramento at #6 regionally and #20 nationwide (after an impressive, 27-spot jump) and Riverside at #7 in the South and #23 in the U.S.

Otherwise, Portland, OR, drops to #25 in the U.S. and #8 in the West, while Santa Ana, CA, moves up one position to #28 and #9 regionally.

Finally, the Northeast gains some ground with two entries in the national rankings, as opposed to one last month. More precisely, Philadelphia is the most coveted city in the region (and #6 in the U.S.), followed by Newark, NJ, which surged a remarkable 53 spots to #18 in the U.S.

Meet the newcomers: Southern cities are in high demand this month

September introduces four new cities to our list of the top 30 most in-demand rental markets, primarily from the South. First, Tampa, FL, makes its debut in the rankings after a whopping 27-spot climb since last month.

Another Florida gem appearing for the first time in the top 30 is Jacksonville, FL, where interest from renters is high. However, with a 6% drop in apartment availability, snagging a rental here might prove challenging.

Not to be outdone, Hialeah, FL, has made a stunning comeback, soaring 58 spots to reclaim its place in the top 30 after being absent for more than a year from the top. Similarly, Newark, NJ, also moves back up in the ranking (after a 53-spot climb), signaling renewed interest in these locations.

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 2024 versus the same month in 2023.

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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