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U.S. Median Rents Exceed $2k in May

The median monthly asking rent in the U.S. surpassed a whopping $2,000 for the first time in May rising 15% year-over-year to a record high of $2,002—according to a new report from Redfin. That’s on par with April’s annual increase of 15%, but a slowdown from March’s 17% gain.

“More people are opting to live alone, and rising mortgage-interest rates are forcing would-be homebuyers to keep renting,” said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. “These are among the demand-side pressures keeping rents sky-high. While renting has become more expensive, it is now more attractive than buying for many Americans this year as mortgage payments have surpassed rents on many homes. Although we expect rent-price growth to continue to slow in the coming months, it will likely remain high, causing ongoing affordability issues for renters.”

Asking rents surged 48% year-over-year in Austin, Texas —the largest increase on record in any metro area since at least the beginning of Redfin’s rental data in 2019. Nashville, Tennessee, Seattle, and Cincinnati also saw asking rents increase over 30% from a year earlier. Rent growth in Portland, Oregon at (24%) fell below 30% for the first time since the start of the year, causing it to drop out of the top 10.

Top 10 Metro Areas With Fastest-Rising Rents Year Over Year

  1. Austin, Texas (48%)
  2. Nashville, Tennessee (32%)
  3. Seattle, Washington (32%)
  4. Cincinnati, Ohio (32%)
  5. Miami, Florida (29%)
  6. Fort Lauderdale, Florida (29%)
  7. West Palm Beach, Florida (29%)
  8. New York, New York (24%)
  9. Nassau County, New York (24%)
  10. New Brunswick, New Jersey (24%)

Only three of the 50 most populous metro areas saw rents fall in May from a year earlier. Rents declined 10% in Milwaukee and 3% in Kansas City, Missouri, and Minneapolis. The same three metro areas saw rents decline in April as well.

Metro Areas Where Rents Declined Year-Over-Year

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin (-10%)
  • Kansas City, Missouri (-3%)
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota (-3%)

To read the full report, including charts, additional data and methodology, click here.

About Author: Demetria Lester

Demetria C. Lester is a reporter for DS News and MReport magazines with more than eight years of writing experience. She has served as content coordinator and copy editor for the Los Angeles Daily News and the Orange County Register, in addition to 11 other Southern California publications. A former editor-in-chief at Northlake College and staff writer at her alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington, she has covered events such as the Byron Nelson and Pac-12 Conferences, progressing into her freelance work with the Dallas Wings and D Magazine. Currently located in Dallas, Texas, Lester is an avid jazz lover and likes to read. She can be reached at [email protected].
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