{"id":139789,"date":"2025-11-24T00:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T08:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=139789"},"modified":"2025-11-24T04:39:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T12:39:17","slug":"rentcafe-renter-engagement-tracker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/rental-market\/market-snapshots\/rentcafe-renter-engagement-tracker\/","title":{"rendered":"Q3 2025 Renter Engagement Tracker: Cincinnati edges D.C. for top spot, Midwest is most in-demand region"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the peak rental season winding down, we took a closer look at renter activity during 2025\u2019s third quarter, which is typically the busiest time of the year for moving. Using RentCafe.com<\/a> renter engagement data, we identified the cities that garnered the most interest from apartment-hunters from July through September.<\/p>\n

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Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Major shifts:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Cincinnati moved up to become the most searched city for apartments<\/span>\u00a0in the third quarter of 2025.<\/li>\n
  • Washington, D.C., stepped down from the top spot after nearly a year, showing that renters are exploring beyond the usual hotspots.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Las Vegas climbed into the top five as more renters searched for homes in this fast-growing Western market.<\/li>\n
  • Long Beach, CA, broke into the top 10 for the first time this year, drawing renters with its coastal lifestyle and easy access to nearby job hubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Biggest jump in apartment search activity<\/span>:<\/strong> St. Louis sees the biggest rise after skyrocketing 74 positions.<\/p>\n

    Midwest leads renter interest:<\/strong> The region dominates in 2025’s third quarter, with 11 cities among the nation\u2019s 30 most sought-after rental markets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/div>\n

    This summer, more renters turned to online tools to get organized about their apartment search. Instead of simply browsing, people are increasingly saving listings, setting alerts, and narrowing their options to match what matters most \u2014 whether that\u2019s finding pet-friendly homes, proximity to work, or better value for their budget.<\/p>\n

    Across the country, both major metros and emerging markets saw stronger engagement, with renters comparing more apartments and acting faster when they found a good fit. The Midwest, in particular, drew more attention than ever, signaling that many of its \u201chidden gem\u201d markets are no longer a secret.<\/p>\n

    \"Renter<\/p>\n

    Check out our first quarter<\/a> report and our mid-year check-in<\/a> to see how the rankings have evolved this year.<\/p>\n

    Cincinnati is most sought-after city by renters in Q3 2025<\/h2>\n

    1. Cincinnati<\/h3>\n

    More people are checking out apartments in Cincinnati<\/a><\/strong> than before. Renters are not just browsing \u2014 they\u2019re saving more listings they like and setting up alerts for new ones that fit their needs. With this growing interest and organized search behavior, Cincinnati claims the top spot this quarter after climbing four places in the rankings.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Page views were up 34%.<\/li>\n
    • Listings added to favorites jumped 52%.<\/li>\n
    • Saved searches grew 56%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \"skyline<\/p>\n

      Together, these changes reflect\u00a0renters\u2019 growing interest in this Midwest hub as they explore more affordable options during the busiest season for moving.<\/p>\n

      Most renter engagement in Cincinnati comes from nearby\u00a0Columbus, OH<\/a>, as well as Indianapolis<\/a> and Chicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      2. Atlanta<\/h3>\n

      Apartment-seekers in Atlanta<\/a> are taking a more thoughtful approach to their searches. Many are browsing more listings before saving favorites, showing that they\u2019re weighing their options carefully. This steady, engaged activity helped Atlanta take second place this quarter, moving up two spots in the rankings.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Saved searches grew 13%.<\/li>\n
      • Favorites fell 7%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \"view<\/p>\n

        Even so, Atlanta continues to dominate in engagement \u2014 ranking #<\/strong>1 nationally for favorites and #4 for saved searches. This means renters are still seriously considering apartments in the city but may be approaching the search more thoughtfully amid rising competition.<\/p>\n

        Beyond local interest, Atlanta apartments attracted the most engagement from\u00a0New York City<\/a>;\u00a0Sandy Springs, GA<\/a>; and Marietta, GA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        3. Kansas City, MO<\/h3>\n
        \n

        Interest in Kansas City, MO<\/a>, remains strong as renters spend more time researching and shortlisting apartments they like. Many are using saved searches to find listings that meet specific needs, such as price range or location. This continued engagement keeps Kansas City among the most in-demand rental markets, ranking third this quarter after a minor one-position drop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

          \n
        • Page views increased 50%.<\/li>\n
        • Both favorited listings and saved searches more than doubled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          \"kansas<\/p>\n

          This mix points to an expanding audience of renters researching the market and shortlisting apartments, showing that Kansas City remains one of the Midwest\u2019s most desirable and active rental hubs.<\/p>\n

          Top activity for this city came from apartment hunters in Kansas City, KS<\/a>, along with Overland Park, KS<\/a>; Denver<\/a>; and Chicago.<\/p>\n