WalletHub Compiles Best, Worst Places to Rent

(Image courtesy of Ion Ceban/pexels.com)

WalletHub, Miami, released a new report analyzing where renters in the U.S. are best positioned across 21 key measures related to rental attractiveness and quality of life. The best city, the analysis found, was Overland Park, Kan.

Also in the top 10 are Scottsdale, Ariz., Chandler, Ariz., Gilbert, Ariz., Bismark, N.D., Sioux Falls, S.D., Huntsville, Ala., Peoria, Ariz., Lewiston, Maine, and Nashua, N.H.

Overland Park won the top spot through a combination of factors, including having the highest average home square footage and the eighth best rental affordability–the average renter spends only 17% of their annual income on rent.

Scottsdale scored highly due to its quality of life; it was deemed the best city for the availability of jobs and the driving environment.

And, Chandler took the third spot for factors such as its affordability–with the average renter spending only 21% of their annual income on rent–and generous square footage.

The 10 “worst” cities were listed as Memphis, Tenn., Detroit, Cleveland, Tacoma, Wash., New Orleans, Newark, N.J., Jackson, Miss., Baton Rouge, La., San Bernardino, Calif., and Huntington, W.Va.

Factors considered in the methodology ranged from classic indicators such as affordability, square footage, cost of living and the local job market to more unique metrics such as whether there are state bedbug regulations and the friendliness of sublet laws.