Suburban Chicago ranks second on the list, with many other Midwestern metros also holding top spots
March 11, 2025
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Many renters are flocking to Midwest metros, such as the suburbs of Chicago.
Faced with high housing costs, many renters in early 2025 are exploring new living options to better suit their needs. Online rental marketplace RentCafe analyzed major U.S. housing markets to find which areas renters are gravitating toward the most. Miami held the top spot on the list, followed by suburban Chicago. The Midwest more generally has emerged as the most competitive region for renters, with the highest Rental Competitiveness Index (RCI) score of 79.5, surpassing the national average by 3.8 points.
Of course, the suburbs are also attracting spillover from renters priced out of Chicago, which ranks 18th among the nation’s top 20 rental markets at the start of 2025 (RCI score 79.3). Just a year ago, the Windy City secured a modest 31st place, so this jump in the rankings demonstrates just how hot this rental market has become.Read more
