Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.
While, in many ways, the U.S. economy looks strong — with low unemployment levels, easing inflation, and a robust stock market — many Americans continue to feel the squeeze of high costs.
The inflation rate has come down from its peak in mid-2022, but the effects of several years of record price increases still linger, leaving households struggling to make ends meet.
One of the most pressing financial challenges for many is the cost of housing. According to data from Zillow, median rents are approximately 35% higher today than they were before the pandemic.
With high home prices and mortgage interest rates pricing many would-be buyers out of the real estate market, rentals have been highly competitive.
The following is a breakdown of changes in rent prices across major metropolitan areas. The analysis was conducted by researchers at Construction Coverage. For more information, refer to the methodology section.
15. Rochester, NY
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +8.5%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$117
- Median rent (2025): $1,494
- Median rent (2024): $1,377
14. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +8.5%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$151
- Median rent (2025): $1,920
- Median rent (2024): $1,769
13. Cleveland, OH
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +8.7%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$103
- Median rent (2025): $1,288
- Median rent (2024): $1,185
12. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +8.8%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$110
- Median rent (2025): $1,367
- Median rent (2024): $1,257
11. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +9.9%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$124
- Median rent (2025): $1,371
- Median rent (2024): $1,247
10. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +10.1%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$350
- Median rent (2025): $3,811
- Median rent (2024): $3,461
9. Pittsburgh, PA
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +11.0%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$139
- Median rent (2025): $1,399
- Median rent (2024): $1,260
8. Columbus, OH
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +11.1%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$154
- Median rent (2025): $1,546
- Median rent (2024): $1,392
7. Richmond, VA
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +12.5%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$224
- Median rent (2025): $2,014
- Median rent (2024): $1,790
6. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +12.5%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$226
- Median rent (2025): $2,036
- Median rent (2024): $1,810
5. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +13.3%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$201
- Median rent (2025): $1,710
- Median rent (2024): $1,509
4. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +13.8%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$304
- Median rent (2025): $2,503
- Median rent (2024): $2,199
3. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +14.4%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$256
- Median rent (2025): $2,032
- Median rent (2024): $1,776
2. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +14.7%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$361
- Median rent (2025): $2,812
- Median rent (2024): $2,451
1. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Percentage change in median rent (2024-2025): +16.8%
- Total change in median rent (2024-2025): +$289
- Median rent (2025): $2,008
- Median rent (2024): $1,719
Methodology
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 50th Percentile Rent Estimates and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.
To determine the locations with the biggest change in rent prices, researchers at Construction Coverage ranked locations by the percentage change in median rent from 2024 to 2025. In the event of a tie, locations with the greater total change in median rent from 2024 to 2025 were ranked higher.
For each location, the median rent was estimated by creating a weighted average of HUD’s median rent estimates by unit size using the number of renter-occupied households by unit size as the weighting factor.
Rent estimates for 2024 published in this report differ slightly from those published last year due to a combination of data revisions from HUD alongside housing unit updates from Census. To improve relevance only metropolitan areas with complete data were included.
Due to limitations in the HUD dataset, rent estimates for Connecticut metros were calculated using county boundaries rather than newer planning region boundaries.
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