Despite New York City ranking as the least affordable housing market, the city ranked in the middle for best to worst places to rent in America, according to a WalletHub study.
As almost 46 million Americans rent rather than purchase their homes out of convenience, costs, or availability, Wallethubanalyzed 182 rental markets based on 21 key measures, such as rental rates and rental affordability, to determine the best and worst rental markets across the country.
“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income. You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.
Here's what to know about New York’s affordability.
How New York cities ranked
New York City ranked No. 106 in the middle for best-to-worst places to rent, earning a total score of 47.02, presenting a notably tough score due to its rental environment and quality of life compared to other cities.
- No. 121 for Rental Market & Affordability
- No. 96 for Quality of Life
Among other New York cities evaluated in the study:
- No. 116: Rochester, earning a total score of 46.22, ranking at No.111 for Rental Market & Affordability and No. 109 for Quality of Life.
- No. 126: Yonkers, earning a total score of 45.08, ranking at No.158 for Rental Market & Affordability.
- No. 157: Buffalo, earning a total score of 42.82, is sitting near the bottom of the state's rankings at No. 156 for Quality of Life.
Top Best and Worst cities for renters
Top 10 best cities for renters are:
No. 1: Scottsdale, AZ (Score: 69.05)
No. 2: Gilbert, AZ (Score: 67.63)
No. 3: Chandler, AZ (Score: 67.20)
No. 4: Overland Park, KS (Score: 66.94)
No. 5: Columbia, MD (Score: 65.80)
No. 6: Peoria, AZ (Score: 65.25)
No. 7: Bismarck, ND (Score: 63.60)
No. 8: Huntsville, AL (Score: 63.10)
No. 9: Sioux Falls, SD (Score: 62.33)
No. 10: Amarillo, TX (Score: 60.18)
Top 10 worst cities for renters are:
No. 173: Shreveport, LA (Score: 38.08)
No. 174: Huntington, WV (Score: 38.02)
No. 175: Augusta, GA (Score: 38.00)
No. 176: New Orleans, LA (Score: 36.51)
No. 177: Newark, NJ (Score: 36.08)
No. 178: Akron, OH (Score: 34.38)
No. 179: Memphis, TN (Score: 32.97)
No. 180: Jackson, MS (Score: 32.79)
No. 181: Cleveland, OH (Score: 32.02)
No. 182: Detroit, MI (Score: 29.95)
WalletHub found that many of the top rental markets are in the Southwest and Midwest, whereas coastal areas often face higher costs.
How WalletHub calculated the rankings
WalletHub compared 182 cities across two categories:
- Rental Market & Affordability
- Quality of Life
The rankings were based on 21 metrics, including rental affordability, vacancy rates, sublet laws, square footage, newer homes, insurance premiums, cost of living, safety, crime, job markets, traffic, recreation, weather, and school systems. Cities received scores on a 100-point scale, with higher scores indicating more favorable conditions for renter households.
The data used in this study was collected on June 9, 2026, from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Zillow, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Best and worst places to rent: Where New York cities rank
