ATTOM: Owning More Affordable Than Renting in More Than Half of Counties

(Image courtesy of Robert So/pexels.com)

ATTOM, Irvine, Calif., released its 2026 Rental Affordability Report, finding that in 57.7% of counties analyzed, owning a home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property.

But, median prices on single-family homes rose at a greater rate (or declined at a lesser rate) than median rent on a three-bedroom property in 69% of such counties.

Homeownership expenses consumed more than a third of the typical resident’s wages in 65.7% of the 364 counties analyzed. But, renting a three-bedroom property consumed more than a third of a typical resident’s wages in 76.9% of the counties analyzed.

Regionally, counties in Midwestern states showed a tendency toward homeownership being more affordable than renting–in that region it was more affordable to buy than rent in 81.5% of counties analyzed.

In comparison, it’s more affordable to buy in relatively few counties in the West. In only 16.9% of analyzed counties, it was cheaper to buy than rent.

“Renters looking to put down roots, young families who need more space, professionals relocating for work and many others are facing a very tough choice,” said Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM. “The data shows that buying is typically the most affordable long-term option, but as the housing market sets new record-high prices quarter after quarter, affording the initial investment becomes increasingly challenging.”