Single-Family Rents Continue to Moderate

As single-family inventory improves, rental rates have moderated. According to property data provider Cotality’s Single-Family Rent Index, single-family rent prices increased by just 1.4% year-over-year as of August 2025 compared to a 3% growth rate during the same period the prior year. Rents for detached single-family rentals grew slightly higher, by 1.5% year-over-year, while rents for attached homes grew by just 1%.

Some U.S. cities, however, experienced higher rent growth. Chicago, for instance, recorded a 4.7% increase in single-family rents, and Los Angeles saw rents rise by 2.8% year-over-year in August. Philadelphia follows closely behind with a 2.7% increase in rents over the same period.

“Annual single-family rent growth fell to its lowest level in more than 15 years this August, highlighting a notable shift in the rental market,” said Molly Boesel, Senior Principal Economist at Cotality. “We’re seeing slower growth across price tiers and in many major metros. That said, not all areas are following the same pattern. Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles continue to show stronger rent growth, with Los Angeles now only slightly above its pre-wildfire level from January. Los Angeles ranks second among the top 10 metros for rent growth, suggesting that local conditions such as recovery efforts, limited housing supply, and regional economic factors can still influence rental trends even as national price growth moderates.”