2026 city rankings

Where Rent and Commutes Cost the Least (2026)

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Bismarck, ND ranks #1. Renters spend 24.3% of income on rent, and a full-time worker spends about 10.9 hours a month commuting. Among large cities (300,000+ people), New York, NY ranks worst at national #476.

Across 496 cities with population of 75,000 or more, renters typically spend 31.8% of income on rent, and the median is 17.2 hours a month commuting.

National top 25

Lowest combined rent share of income and mean commute time

Rank	City	Rent share	Commute	Commute hrs/mo	Score
1	Bismarck, ND	24.3%	15.6 min	10.9 hrs/mo	94.2
2	Bloomington, IL	24.9%	16.8 min	11.8 hrs/mo	90.7
3	Fargo, ND	26.3%	15.5 min	10.9 hrs/mo	89.7
4	Fort Smith, AR	25.6%	16.8 min	11.8 hrs/mo	89.1
5	Wichita Falls, TX	27.9%	14.3 min	10.0 hrs/mo	88
6	Sioux Falls, SD	26.5%	17.0 min	11.9 hrs/mo	86.6
7	Lawton, OK	27.4%	16.2 min	11.3 hrs/mo	85.9
8	Springdale, AR	25.3%	19.3 min	13.5 hrs/mo	85.4
9	Sioux City, IA	26.7%	17.5 min	12.3 hrs/mo	85.3
10	Redmond, WA	23.3%	22.1 min	15.5 hrs/mo	85.2
11	Sunnyvale, CA	22.8%	23.0 min	16.1 hrs/mo	84.8
12	Topeka, KS	27.7%	16.7 min	11.7 hrs/mo	84.3
13	Mountain View, CA	23.1%	23.3 min	16.3 hrs/mo	83.6
14	Bellevue, WA	23.4%	23.6 min	16.5 hrs/mo	82.3
15	Wichita, KS	27.5%	18.4 min	12.9 hrs/mo	81.8
16	Santa Clara, CA	24.5%	22.6 min	15.8 hrs/mo	81.5
17	Bend, OR	29.3%	16.3 min	11.4 hrs/mo	81.2
18	Overland Park, KS	26.9%	19.7 min	13.8 hrs/mo	80.9
19	Green Bay, WI	27.3%	19.2 min	13.4 hrs/mo	80.9
20	Cary, NC	24.9%	22.5 min	15.8 hrs/mo	80.7
21	Missoula, MT	30.0%	15.8 min	11.1 hrs/mo	80.5
22	Cedar Rapids, IA	28.0%	18.6 min	13.0 hrs/mo	80.3
23	Billings, MT	29.6%	16.5 min	11.6 hrs/mo	80.2
24	Rochester, MN	29.1%	17.4 min	12.2 hrs/mo	79.8
25	Springfield, IL	29.2%	17.4 min	12.2 hrs/mo	79.6

Where rent and commutes take the most

Highest combined rent share and commute time among ranked cities

Rank	City	Rent share	Commute	Commute hrs/mo	Score
496	Menifee, CA	39.5%	41.5 min	29.1 hrs/mo	13.2
495	Palmdale, CA	40.0%	39.9 min	27.9 hrs/mo	14.9
494	Victorville, CA	39.4%	40.4 min	28.3 hrs/mo	15.4
493	Antioch, CA	37.3%	42.0 min	29.4 hrs/mo	17.5
492	Kissimmee, FL	43.1%	33.7 min	23.6 hrs/mo	18.4
491	Pittsburg, CA	39.1%	38.0 min	26.6 hrs/mo	20.3
490	Hesperia, CA	34.8%	42.9 min	30.0 hrs/mo	21.8
489	Hemet, CA	39.1%	36.4 min	25.5 hrs/mo	23.1
488	Homestead, FL	38.4%	35.8 min	25.1 hrs/mo	25.8
487	Deerfield Beach, FL	42.2%	28.2 min	19.7 hrs/mo	30.2
486	Fairfield, CA	39.7%	30.7 min	21.5 hrs/mo	31.7
485	Tracy, CA	30.8%	42.5 min	29.8 hrs/mo	31.9
484	Miami Gardens, FL	38.5%	32.1 min	22.5 hrs/mo	32
483	Missouri City, TX	39.7%	30.4 min	21.3 hrs/mo	32.2
482	Moreno Valley, CA	35.9%	35.5 min	24.9 hrs/mo	32.2
481	Doral, FL	42.5%	26.5 min	18.6 hrs/mo	32.4
480	Murrieta, CA	34.0%	37.4 min	26.2 hrs/mo	33.3
479	Hollywood, FL	39.7%	29.4 min	20.6 hrs/mo	33.9
478	Chino Hills, CA	34.5%	36.1 min	25.3 hrs/mo	34.4
477	Miramar, FL	38.2%	31.1 min	21.8 hrs/mo	34.5
476	New York, NY	31.3%	40.3 min	28.2 hrs/mo	34.6
475	Santa Clarita, CA	35.8%	34.1 min	23.9 hrs/mo	34.9
474	Davie, FL	39.7%	28.8 min	20.2 hrs/mo	35
473	Perris, CA	33.3%	37.1 min	26.0 hrs/mo	35.5
472	El Cajon, CA	42.3%	24.8 min	17.4 hrs/mo	35.9

Best by city size

Top 10 in each population band among cities that cleared the population floor.

Large cities (300,000+)

Rank	City	Rent share	Commute	Commute hrs/mo	Score
15	Wichita, KS	27.5%	18.4 min	12.9 hrs/mo	81.8
41	Tulsa, OK	29.0%	18.9 min	13.2 hrs/mo	77.4
67	Omaha, NE	30.0%	19.6 min	13.7 hrs/mo	73.8
73	Columbus, OH	28.8%	21.5 min	15.1 hrs/mo	73.3
89	Lexington, KY	29.9%	20.9 min	14.6 hrs/mo	71.8
94	Minneapolis, MN	29.3%	22.0 min	15.4 hrs/mo	71.3
97	St. Paul, MN	30.0%	21.1 min	14.8 hrs/mo	71.2
102	Louisville, KY	29.1%	22.5 min	15.8 hrs/mo	70.9
109	Oklahoma City, OK	29.5%	22.2 min	15.5 hrs/mo	70.5
113	Kansas City, MO	30.0%	21.7 min	15.2 hrs/mo	70.2

Mid-size cities (100,000-300,000)

Rank	City	Rent share	Commute	Commute hrs/mo	Score
3	Fargo, ND	26.3%	15.5 min	10.9 hrs/mo	89.7
5	Wichita Falls, TX	27.9%	14.3 min	10.0 hrs/mo	88
6	Sioux Falls, SD	26.5%	17.0 min	11.9 hrs/mo	86.6
11	Sunnyvale, CA	22.8%	23.0 min	16.1 hrs/mo	84.8
12	Topeka, KS	27.7%	16.7 min	11.7 hrs/mo	84.3
14	Bellevue, WA	23.4%	23.6 min	16.5 hrs/mo	82.3
16	Santa Clara, CA	24.5%	22.6 min	15.8 hrs/mo	81.5
17	Bend, OR	29.3%	16.3 min	11.4 hrs/mo	81.2
18	Overland Park, KS	26.9%	19.7 min	13.8 hrs/mo	80.9
19	Green Bay, WI	27.3%	19.2 min	13.4 hrs/mo	80.9

Smaller cities (75,000-100,000)

Rank	City	Rent share	Commute	Commute hrs/mo	Score
1	Bismarck, ND	24.3%	15.6 min	10.9 hrs/mo	94.2
2	Bloomington, IL	24.9%	16.8 min	11.8 hrs/mo	90.7
4	Fort Smith, AR	25.6%	16.8 min	11.8 hrs/mo	89.1
7	Lawton, OK	27.4%	16.2 min	11.3 hrs/mo	85.9
8	Springdale, AR	25.3%	19.3 min	13.5 hrs/mo	85.4
9	Sioux City, IA	26.7%	17.5 min	12.3 hrs/mo	85.3
10	Redmond, WA	23.3%	22.1 min	15.5 hrs/mo	85.2
13	Mountain View, CA	23.1%	23.3 min	16.3 hrs/mo	83.6
21	Missoula, MT	30.0%	15.8 min	11.1 hrs/mo	80.5
26	Lehi, UT	24.6%	23.7 min	16.6 hrs/mo	79.3

Best and worst in every state

States with at least two ranked cities. Jump links use the state name, such as #texas or #minnesota.

Alabama

7 ranked cities

Best: Huntsville, ALNational #30 · State #1 · renters spend 27.9% of income on rent · 13.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Auburn, AL (college town)National #355 · State #7 · renters spend 38.9% of income on rent · 13.9 hours a month commuting

Arizona

15 ranked cities

Best: Yuma, AZNational #68 · State #1 · renters spend 30.9% of income on rent · 12.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Goodyear, AZNational #454 · State #15 · renters spend 37.1% of income on rent · 20.7 hours a month commuting

Arkansas

5 ranked cities

Best: Fort Smith, ARNational #4 · State #1 · renters spend 25.6% of income on rent · 11.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Jonesboro, ARNational #104 · State #5 · renters spend 32.5% of income on rent · 12.6 hours a month commuting

California

116 ranked cities

Best: Sunnyvale, CANational #11 · State #1 · renters spend 22.8% of income on rent · 16.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: Menifee, CANational #496 · State #116 · renters spend 39.5% of income on rent · 29.1 hours a month commuting

Colorado

16 ranked cities

Best: Pueblo, CONational #119 · State #1 · renters spend 31.9% of income on rent · 13.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Boulder, CO (college town)National #434 · State #16 · renters spend 44.1% of income on rent · 12.7 hours a month commuting

Connecticut

7 ranked cities

Best: New Haven, CTNational #232 · State #1 · renters spend 33.5% of income on rent · 15.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: Bridgeport, CTNational #449 · State #7 · renters spend 35.7% of income on rent · 21.4 hours a month commuting

Florida

38 ranked cities

Best: Lakeland, FLNational #163 · State #1 · renters spend 30.4% of income on rent · 16.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Kissimmee, FLNational #492 · State #38 · renters spend 43.1% of income on rent · 23.6 hours a month commuting

Georgia

11 ranked cities

Best: Columbus, GANational #103 · State #1 · renters spend 30.3% of income on rent · 14.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: South Fulton, GANational #463 · State #11 · renters spend 35.6% of income on rent · 22.8 hours a month commuting

Idaho

3 ranked cities

Best: Boise, IDNational #56 · State #1 · renters spend 29.6% of income on rent · 13.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Nampa, IDNational #185 · State #3 · renters spend 30.0% of income on rent · 17.1 hours a month commuting

Illinois

14 ranked cities

Best: Bloomington, ILNational #2 · State #1 · renters spend 24.9% of income on rent · 11.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Chicago, ILNational #363 · State #14 · renters spend 29.3% of income on rent · 23.2 hours a month commuting

Indiana

8 ranked cities

Best: Evansville, INNational #34 · State #1 · renters spend 29.1% of income on rent · 12.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Bloomington, IN (college town)National #324 · State #8 · renters spend 39.5% of income on rent · 12.3 hours a month commuting

Iowa

5 ranked cities

Best: Sioux City, IANational #9 · State #1 · renters spend 26.7% of income on rent · 12.3 hours a month commuting
Worst: Iowa City, IA (college town)National #240 · State #5 · renters spend 37.0% of income on rent · 12.1 hours a month commuting

Kansas

6 ranked cities

Best: Topeka, KSNational #12 · State #1 · renters spend 27.7% of income on rent · 11.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: Lawrence, KSNational #106 · State #6 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 13.9 hours a month commuting

Kentucky

3 ranked cities

Best: Bowling Green, KYNational #52 · State #1 · renters spend 30.3% of income on rent · 12.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: Louisville, KYNational #102 · State #3 · renters spend 29.1% of income on rent · 15.8 hours a month commuting

Louisiana

5 ranked cities

Best: Lafayette, LANational #86 · State #1 · renters spend 30.4% of income on rent · 14.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: New Orleans, LANational #330 · State #5 · renters spend 35.9% of income on rent · 15.8 hours a month commuting

Maryland

2 ranked cities

Best: Frederick, MDNational #347 · State #1 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 21.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Baltimore, MDNational #353 · State #2 · renters spend 32.0% of income on rent · 20.4 hours a month commuting

Massachusetts

13 ranked cities

Best: Newton, MANational #147 · State #1 · renters spend 27.2% of income on rent · 18.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Lynn, MANational #443 · State #13 · renters spend 34.6% of income on rent · 22.1 hours a month commuting

Michigan

15 ranked cities

Best: Troy, MINational #46 · State #1 · renters spend 25.7% of income on rent · 16.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Dearborn, MINational #373 · State #15 · renters spend 38.3% of income on rent · 15.2 hours a month commuting

Minnesota

8 ranked cities

Best: Rochester, MNNational #24 · State #1 · renters spend 29.1% of income on rent · 12.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Brooklyn Park, MNNational #213 · State #8 · renters spend 33.0% of income on rent · 14.9 hours a month commuting

Missouri

7 ranked cities

Best: Springfield, MONational #29 · State #1 · renters spend 29.4% of income on rent · 12.3 hours a month commuting
Worst: Lee's Summit, MONational #247 · State #7 · renters spend 31.3% of income on rent · 17.6 hours a month commuting

Montana

2 ranked cities

Best: Missoula, MTNational #21 · State #1 · renters spend 30.0% of income on rent · 11.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: Billings, MTNational #23 · State #2 · renters spend 29.6% of income on rent · 11.6 hours a month commuting

Nebraska

2 ranked cities

Best: Lincoln, NENational #33 · State #1 · renters spend 28.9% of income on rent · 12.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Omaha, NENational #67 · State #2 · renters spend 30.0% of income on rent · 13.7 hours a month commuting

Nevada

5 ranked cities

Best: Reno, NVNational #124 · State #1 · renters spend 31.3% of income on rent · 14.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Las Vegas, NVNational #361 · State #5 · renters spend 34.7% of income on rent · 18.0 hours a month commuting

New Hampshire

2 ranked cities

Best: Manchester, NHNational #172 · State #1 · renters spend 30.0% of income on rent · 16.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: Nashua, NHNational #181 · State #2 · renters spend 28.7% of income on rent · 18.2 hours a month commuting

New Jersey

7 ranked cities

Best: Edison, NJNational #241 · State #1 · renters spend 24.7% of income on rent · 23.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: Newark, NJNational #441 · State #7 · renters spend 33.7% of income on rent · 22.8 hours a month commuting

New Mexico

4 ranked cities

Best: Santa Fe, NMNational #144 · State #1 · renters spend 31.3% of income on rent · 14.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: Rio Rancho, NMNational #341 · State #4 · renters spend 31.0% of income on rent · 20.8 hours a month commuting

New York

7 ranked cities

Best: Albany, NYNational #95 · State #1 · renters spend 30.8% of income on rent · 14.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: New York, NYNational #476 · State #7 · renters spend 31.3% of income on rent · 28.2 hours a month commuting

North Carolina

13 ranked cities

Best: Cary, NCNational #20 · State #1 · renters spend 24.9% of income on rent · 15.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Gastonia, NCNational #301 · State #13 · renters spend 31.7% of income on rent · 18.8 hours a month commuting

North Dakota

2 ranked cities

Best: Bismarck, NDNational #1 · State #1 · renters spend 24.3% of income on rent · 10.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Fargo, NDNational #3 · State #2 · renters spend 26.3% of income on rent · 10.9 hours a month commuting

Ohio

7 ranked cities

Best: Toledo, OHNational #43 · State #1 · renters spend 28.4% of income on rent · 13.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Cleveland, OHNational #192 · State #7 · renters spend 31.5% of income on rent · 15.8 hours a month commuting

Oklahoma

6 ranked cities

Best: Lawton, OKNational #7 · State #1 · renters spend 27.4% of income on rent · 11.3 hours a month commuting
Worst: Edmond, OKNational #201 · State #6 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 16.3 hours a month commuting

Oregon

8 ranked cities

Best: Bend, ORNational #17 · State #1 · renters spend 29.3% of income on rent · 11.4 hours a month commuting
Worst: Gresham, ORNational #357 · State #8 · renters spend 34.4% of income on rent · 18.2 hours a month commuting

Pennsylvania

7 ranked cities

Best: Scranton, PANational #99 · State #1 · renters spend 31.4% of income on rent · 13.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: Philadelphia, PANational #387 · State #7 · renters spend 31.4% of income on rent · 22.2 hours a month commuting

Rhode Island

4 ranked cities

Best: Cranston, RINational #142 · State #1 · renters spend 28.8% of income on rent · 17.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Warwick, RINational #229 · State #4 · renters spend 31.1% of income on rent · 17.2 hours a month commuting

South Carolina

5 ranked cities

Best: Columbia, SCNational #220 · State #1 · renters spend 36.0% of income on rent · 12.4 hours a month commuting
Worst: Mount Pleasant, SCNational #304 · State #5 · renters spend 33.3% of income on rent · 17.4 hours a month commuting

South Dakota

2 ranked cities

Best: Sioux Falls, SDNational #6 · State #1 · renters spend 26.5% of income on rent · 11.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Rapid City, SDNational #42 · State #2 · renters spend 30.1% of income on rent · 12.3 hours a month commuting

Tennessee

7 ranked cities

Best: Chattanooga, TNNational #27 · State #1 · renters spend 28.6% of income on rent · 13.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Murfreesboro, TNNational #282 · State #7 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 18.7 hours a month commuting

Texas

54 ranked cities

Best: Wichita Falls, TXNational #5 · State #1 · renters spend 27.9% of income on rent · 10.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Missouri City, TXNational #483 · State #54 · renters spend 39.7% of income on rent · 21.3 hours a month commuting

Utah

11 ranked cities

Best: Lehi, UTNational #26 · State #1 · renters spend 24.6% of income on rent · 16.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: West Jordan, UTNational #217 · State #11 · renters spend 31.1% of income on rent · 16.9 hours a month commuting

Virginia

11 ranked cities

Best: Roanoke, VANational #31 · State #1 · renters spend 28.4% of income on rent · 13.3 hours a month commuting
Worst: Suffolk, VANational #408 · State #11 · renters spend 33.7% of income on rent · 21.1 hours a month commuting

Washington

17 ranked cities

Best: Redmond, WANational #10 · State #1 · renters spend 23.3% of income on rent · 15.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: Federal Way, WANational #445 · State #17 · renters spend 34.2% of income on rent · 22.5 hours a month commuting

Wisconsin

5 ranked cities

Best: Green Bay, WINational #19 · State #1 · renters spend 27.3% of income on rent · 13.4 hours a month commuting
Worst: Racine, WINational #199 · State #5 · renters spend 31.7% of income on rent · 15.8 hours a month commuting

Best and worst in every metro

Core-based statistical areas with at least three ranked cities. Open a metro to see its best and worst city.

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA5 cities

Best: Sandy Springs, GAMetro #1 · national #153 · renters spend 28.0% of income on rent · 18.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: South Fulton, GAMetro #5 · national #463 · renters spend 35.6% of income on rent · 22.8 hours a month commuting

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX4 cities

Best: Austin, TXMetro #1 · national #133 · renters spend 29.1% of income on rent · 16.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Georgetown, TXMetro #4 · national #365 · renters spend 33.0% of income on rent · 19.7 hours a month commuting

Boise City, ID3 cities

Best: Boise, IDMetro #1 · national #56 · renters spend 29.6% of income on rent · 13.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Nampa, IDMetro #3 · national #185 · renters spend 30.0% of income on rent · 17.1 hours a month commuting

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH9 cities

Best: Newton, MAMetro #1 · national #147 · renters spend 27.2% of income on rent · 18.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Lynn, MAMetro #9 · national #443 · renters spend 34.6% of income on rent · 22.1 hours a month commuting

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT4 cities

Best: Norwalk, CTMetro #1 · national #283 · renters spend 31.0% of income on rent · 19.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Bridgeport, CTMetro #4 · national #449 · renters spend 35.7% of income on rent · 21.4 hours a month commuting

Charleston-North Charleston, SC3 cities

Best: North Charleston, SCMetro #1 · national #261 · renters spend 32.3% of income on rent · 17.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Mount Pleasant, SCMetro #3 · national #304 · renters spend 33.3% of income on rent · 17.4 hours a month commuting

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC4 cities

Best: Charlotte, NCMetro #1 · national #191 · renters spend 29.9% of income on rent · 17.3 hours a month commuting
Worst: Gastonia, NCMetro #4 · national #301 · renters spend 31.7% of income on rent · 18.8 hours a month commuting

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN10 cities

Best: Schaumburg, ILMetro #1 · national #121 · renters spend 25.7% of income on rent · 19.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: Chicago, ILMetro #10 · national #363 · renters spend 29.3% of income on rent · 23.2 hours a month commuting

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX17 cities

Best: Irving, TXMetro #1 · national #105 · renters spend 28.0% of income on rent · 16.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Mesquite, TXMetro #17 · national #468 · renters spend 36.3% of income on rent · 22.5 hours a month commuting

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL3 cities

Best: Daytona Beach, FLMetro #1 · national #266 · renters spend 34.7% of income on rent · 15.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Deltona, FLMetro #3 · national #423 · renters spend 31.6% of income on rent · 23.8 hours a month commuting

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO9 cities

Best: Broomfield, COMetro #1 · national #154 · renters spend 28.2% of income on rent · 17.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Thornton, COMetro #9 · national #428 · renters spend 34.4% of income on rent · 21.3 hours a month commuting

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI10 cities

Best: Troy, MIMetro #1 · national #46 · renters spend 25.7% of income on rent · 16.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Dearborn, MIMetro #10 · national #373 · renters spend 38.3% of income on rent · 15.2 hours a month commuting

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX8 cities

Best: Baytown, TXMetro #1 · national #228 · renters spend 30.5% of income on rent · 17.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Missouri City, TXMetro #8 · national #483 · renters spend 39.7% of income on rent · 21.3 hours a month commuting

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN3 cities

Best: Carmel, INMetro #1 · national #76 · renters spend 26.7% of income on rent · 17.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Indianapolis, INMetro #3 · national #206 · renters spend 30.4% of income on rent · 17.2 hours a month commuting

Kansas City, MO-KS6 cities

Best: Overland Park, KSMetro #1 · national #18 · renters spend 26.9% of income on rent · 13.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: Lee's Summit, MOMetro #6 · national #247 · renters spend 31.3% of income on rent · 17.6 hours a month commuting

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV3 cities

Best: Henderson, NVMetro #1 · national #297 · renters spend 33.4% of income on rent · 17.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Las Vegas, NVMetro #3 · national #361 · renters spend 34.7% of income on rent · 18.0 hours a month commuting

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA38 cities

Best: Santa Monica, CAMetro #1 · national #107 · renters spend 27.5% of income on rent · 17.4 hours a month commuting
Worst: Palmdale, CAMetro #38 · national #495 · renters spend 40.0% of income on rent · 27.9 hours a month commuting

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX4 cities

Best: Pharr, TXMetro #1 · national #32 · renters spend 26.9% of income on rent · 14.8 hours a month commuting
Worst: McAllen, TXMetro #4 · national #136 · renters spend 30.5% of income on rent · 15.3 hours a month commuting

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL19 cities

Best: West Palm Beach, FLMetro #1 · national #313 · renters spend 34.8% of income on rent · 16.4 hours a month commuting
Worst: Homestead, FLMetro #19 · national #488 · renters spend 38.4% of income on rent · 25.1 hours a month commuting

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI6 cities

Best: Plymouth, MNMetro #1 · national #39 · renters spend 26.8% of income on rent · 15.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Brooklyn Park, MNMetro #6 · national #213 · renters spend 33.0% of income on rent · 14.9 hours a month commuting

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN3 cities

Best: Franklin, TNMetro #1 · national #126 · renters spend 28.7% of income on rent · 16.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: Murfreesboro, TNMetro #3 · national #282 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 18.7 hours a month commuting

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ9 cities

Best: Edison, NJMetro #1 · national #241 · renters spend 24.7% of income on rent · 23.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: New York, NYMetro #9 · national #476 · renters spend 31.3% of income on rent · 28.2 hours a month commuting

Oklahoma City, OK3 cities

Best: Oklahoma City, OKMetro #1 · national #109 · renters spend 29.5% of income on rent · 15.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: Edmond, OKMetro #3 · national #201 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 16.3 hours a month commuting

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA4 cities

Best: Thousand Oaks, CAMetro #1 · national #285 · renters spend 32.9% of income on rent · 17.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Simi Valley, CAMetro #4 · national #406 · renters spend 35.8% of income on rent · 19.0 hours a month commuting

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ12 cities

Best: Scottsdale, AZMetro #1 · national #85 · renters spend 29.2% of income on rent · 15.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: Goodyear, AZMetro #12 · national #454 · renters spend 37.1% of income on rent · 20.7 hours a month commuting

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA5 cities

Best: Hillsboro, ORMetro #1 · national #87 · renters spend 28.4% of income on rent · 16.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Gresham, ORMetro #5 · national #357 · renters spend 34.4% of income on rent · 18.2 hours a month commuting

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA6 cities

Best: Cranston, RIMetro #1 · national #142 · renters spend 28.8% of income on rent · 17.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Fall River, MAMetro #6 · national #258 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 18.1 hours a month commuting

Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT3 cities

Best: Lehi, UTMetro #1 · national #26 · renters spend 24.6% of income on rent · 16.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Provo, UT (college town)Metro #3 · national #54 · renters spend 29.9% of income on rent · 12.9 hours a month commuting

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA20 cities

Best: Indio, CAMetro #1 · national #253 · renters spend 33.1% of income on rent · 16.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: Menifee, CAMetro #20 · national #496 · renters spend 39.5% of income on rent · 29.1 hours a month commuting

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA6 cities

Best: Folsom, CAMetro #1 · national #194 · renters spend 28.6% of income on rent · 18.6 hours a month commuting
Worst: Elk Grove, CAMetro #6 · national #386 · renters spend 32.0% of income on rent · 21.6 hours a month commuting

Salt Lake City-Murray, UT5 cities

Best: Salt Lake City, UTMetro #1 · national #74 · renters spend 30.4% of income on rent · 13.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: West Jordan, UTMetro #5 · national #217 · renters spend 31.1% of income on rent · 16.9 hours a month commuting

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA8 cities

Best: San Diego, CAMetro #1 · national #239 · renters spend 32.4% of income on rent · 16.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: El Cajon, CAMetro #8 · national #472 · renters spend 42.3% of income on rent · 17.4 hours a month commuting

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA16 cities

Best: Redwood City, CAMetro #1 · national #125 · renters spend 28.4% of income on rent · 17.0 hours a month commuting
Worst: Antioch, CAMetro #16 · national #493 · renters spend 37.3% of income on rent · 29.4 hours a month commuting

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA5 cities

Best: Sunnyvale, CAMetro #1 · national #11 · renters spend 22.8% of income on rent · 16.1 hours a month commuting
Worst: San Jose, CAMetro #5 · national #259 · renters spend 30.1% of income on rent · 19.1 hours a month commuting

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA10 cities

Best: Redmond, WAMetro #1 · national #10 · renters spend 23.3% of income on rent · 15.5 hours a month commuting
Worst: Federal Way, WAMetro #10 · national #445 · renters spend 34.2% of income on rent · 22.5 hours a month commuting

Stockton-Lodi, CA3 cities

Best: Stockton, CAMetro #1 · national #417 · renters spend 33.1% of income on rent · 22.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Tracy, CAMetro #3 · national #485 · renters spend 30.8% of income on rent · 29.8 hours a month commuting

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL4 cities

Best: Tampa, FLMetro #1 · national #308 · renters spend 33.5% of income on rent · 17.4 hours a month commuting
Worst: Clearwater, FLMetro #4 · national #384 · renters spend 37.9% of income on rent · 15.9 hours a month commuting

Vallejo, CA3 cities

Best: Vacaville, CAMetro #1 · national #376 · renters spend 33.6% of income on rent · 19.7 hours a month commuting
Worst: Fairfield, CAMetro #3 · national #486 · renters spend 39.7% of income on rent · 21.5 hours a month commuting

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC7 cities

Best: Newport News, VAMetro #1 · national #173 · renters spend 30.6% of income on rent · 16.2 hours a month commuting
Worst: Suffolk, VAMetro #7 · national #408 · renters spend 33.7% of income on rent · 21.1 hours a month commuting

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV3 cities

Best: Alexandria, VAMetro #1 · national #231 · renters spend 28.3% of income on rent · 19.9 hours a month commuting
Worst: Frederick, MDMetro #3 · national #347 · renters spend 31.2% of income on rent · 21.0 hours a month commuting

Downloads

rent-commute-2026.csv Full ranked list with rent share, commute, score, CBSA, and source fields.
safest-affordable-cities-2026.csv Export of the existing safest-affordable ranking lists.

Methodology

Data sources. Rent share and mean travel time to work come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020 through 2024 (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates). Rent share is ACS table B25071: median gross rent as a percentage of household income for renter-occupied units paying cash rent. When a city shows that renters spend X% of income on rent, that figure is B25071. Mean commute minutes are the snapshot mean travel time to work field (aggregate travel time divided by workers). Median gross rent, household income, work-from-home share, and population are carried from the same ACS vintage.

Score. 50% rentShare + 50% commuteMinutes, each min-max normalized across qualifying cities and inverted so lower is better; score 0-100. A higher score means lower rent burden and a shorter commute.

Commute hours. commuteMinutes x 2 one-way trips x 21 workdays / 60; estimate for a full-time worker commuting every workday.

College towns. Cities marked (college town) use the same flag as the safest-affordable ranking. College towns can show higher rent shares because many residents are students with low incomes.

Population floor. Cities need population of 75,000 or more, plus both rent share and commute minutes. 496 of 500 catalog cities qualify.

Metro areas. Cities map to Census core-based statistical areas through the 2020 Census place-by-county relationship files and the OMB/Census July 2023 CBSA delineation file (list1_2023). Connecticut cities use the July 2023 CBSA titles after counties were replaced by planning regions in that delineation. 496 of 496 ranked cities mapped to a CBSA.

Rent caveat. ACS median gross rent reflects what current renters reported across the five-year window. New leases often cost more.