Top 10 US Cities for Renters

Some cities with the biggest blowups in the real estate market collapse now offer some of the best rental deals in the country. Thanks to a flood of vacant, single homes that many people are still too skittish to buy, these cities offer a plentiful supply of rental homes at reasonable prices. This is especially true of Tucson, Arizona, #1 on our list, where it’s cheaper to rent than to buy. Another Arizona city, Phoenix, claims the #3 spot on this list of The Best Cities for Renters, published by Forbes based on a number of real estate factors.

Missouri, almost dead center in the USA, also features two cities with affordable rentals: Kansas City at #5 and St. Louis at #7.

Still having problems selling single family homes, Texas too has a positive double entry: Houston at #8 (the city skyline pictured here) followed by San Antonio at #9.

The northern most city with auspicious rents is Columbus, Ohio. Representing the East Coast on the Atlantic Ocean is Jacksonville, Fla. coming in at #2.

The majority of the cities, seven of the ten, are located in warmer, sun-splashed areas of the country.

This list shows the average monthly rental payment in each city along with the amount that would be saved on an average mortgage payment:

1. Tucson, Ariz.: $604 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $277.
2. Jacksonville, Fla.:  $737 Average Monthly Rent.  Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $104.
3. Phoenix, Ariz.: $685 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $104.
4. Columbus, Ohio: $625 Average Monthly Rent.  Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $170.
5. Kansas City, Mo.: $649 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by  $213.
6. Las Vegas, Nev.: $742 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $94.
7. St. Louis, Mo.: $669 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $117.
8. Houston, Texas: $698 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $288
9. San Antonio, Texas: $662 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $24.
10. Charlotte, N.C.: $697 Average Monthly Rent. Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment by $665.

Further Housing/Economic Info:

• 20 Lowest Property Taxes in USA
• How I Saved 64% on My Renters Insurance
• My Least Fun Day – A Tax Audit at the IRS
• 5 Reasons I’ll Never Buy a Home
• Happily Living Dirt Cheap in New York City
• The Man who Built himself a House for Peanuts

Natalie