RentCafe has named Round Rock, a suburb of Austin, Texas, the best city for renters in 2022, followed by Raleigh, North Carolina.
RentCafe’s rankings were based on a combination of proprietary data and 17 metrics, including the cost of living, the selection and quality of apartments available, the quality of the neighborhoods where rentals are located, occupancy rates, and opportunities of job growth. All the metrics were given certain weights and were gathered under three main categories: cost of living and housing; local economy; and quality of life.
According to RentCafe, Round Rock, a small city 15 miles north of downtown Austin, stands out because of its highly rated schools, a large stock of high-end apartments, and some of the best job growth in the nation.
“Round Rock scores high in all the main categories of our index, the mix of which helped the city come in first place,” stated RentCafe. “More specifically, Round Rock ranks 13th in cost of living, 10th in terms of local economy, and 12th in quality of life. At the same time, three-quarters of the apartments in Round Rock are classified as high-end, which means they check the most important features for modern renters—from large spaces to quality amenities and finishes.”
Runner-up Raleigh also ranks high for quality of life, high-end apartments in quality neighborhoods, access to high-quality education, and a low unemployment rate. According to RentCafe, Raleigh was one of the top 20 markets for the most apartment construction last year, with approximately 4,800 new apartments delivered.
Southern cities dominate RentCafe’s top 50 list. In addition, small cities, which “tend to offer the best life for renters,” make up half of the rankings.
Rounding out the top 5 are Conroe, Texas, which came in third place in terms of cost of living and housing; Greenville, South Carolina, which was voted the best city in the nation for Gen Z renters last year; and Orlando, Florida, which benefits from an urban-suburban feel, a strong local economy, a solid apartment market, and a wealth of entertainment options.
Other highlights on RentCafe’s rankings:
- Jacksonville, Florida, at sixth place, represents the best large city for renters on the list, with large apartments, good job growth, and a low unemployment rate;
- Savannah, Georgia, at No. 12, topped the cost of living and housing category, with large floor plans and a lower overall cost of living; and
- Plano, Texas, at No. 13, ranked as the best for local economy, with one of the highest average incomes, a low unemployment rate, and strong job growth.
