Still Renting? The Best/Worst Cities for Renters

AKA2D '91 · #1 12-08-2006, 07:54 PM

Study Reveals the 25 Most Renter-Friendly Cities
By Katie Bencken
December 8, 2006
With many renters across the US wavering between renting and buying, ApartmentRatings.com answers the question on renters' minds: where does renting make the most sense? Using data from ApartmentRatings.com and the US Census Bureau, the website ranked 138 cities based on renter satisfaction, affordability, and the availability of rentals.

Where's the best city in the US for renters? Greensboro, North Carolina. Following close behind are Columbus, Georgia, Cincinnati, Ohio, Lawrence, Kansas and Athens, Georgia.

Greensboro enjoys the honor of being this year's pick for the Best City for Renters. Above all, Greensboro is affordable. The average income covers a two bedroom apartment with plenty of change to spare. One might expect a city with such cheap digs to skimp on the little things that make renters happy. Not in Greensboro. A majority of Greensboro renters recommend their apartments on ApartmentRatings.com and with a vacancy rate of 15.4% according to the Census Bureau, there are plenty of choices.

Most-Affordable Cities
What good is a great apartment if rents are so expensive you can't enjoy it? ApartmentRatings.com examined the most affordable cities (measured by the average cost of a two bedroom apartment against local income levels). Renters who reside in the following cities have the most money leftover after paying the rent:

Lexington, KY
College Station, TX
Greensboro, NC
Tacoma, WA
Aurora, CO

Most-Satisfied Renters
When renters are happy, they recommend their apartment to any and all who will listen. According to one resident of Greystone Farms Apartments in Columbus, Georgia, "I have every intention of living here until I can afford my dream house, and I would recommend my apartment without any hesitation to anyone." On ApartmentRatings.com, a key driver of tenant satisfaction is management company service. Perhaps Southern hospitality is Columbus' secret.

Columbus, GA
Grand Rapids, MI
Olympia, WA
Rochester, NY
Kirkland, WA

Most Available Rentals
The national rental market may have tightened significantly over the past year, but not everywhere. In markets with high vacancy, simple supply and demand gives renters the upper hand. Apartment hunters enjoy the luxury of visiting many potential rentals, but can often get move-in specials and other concessions.

Cleveland, OH
Tulsa, OK
Baton Rouge, LA
Indianapolis, IN
Overland Park, KS

Worst Cities for Renters
Cities with few available rentals, high rents, and low satisfaction fared worst on the list of cities for renters. Three of the worst cities can be found in Southern California and other markets recognized nationally for the zooming local real estate prices. Renters in these areas are feeling the crunch, both in their pocket book and in their quality of life.

Costa Mesa, CA
Fullerton, CA
Anaheim, CA
Miami, FL
San Francisco, CA

ApartmentRatings.com is an independent forum for renters to share the unvarnished truth about their apartments. More than eleven million renters use the site, which has more than 450,000 unique reviews and covers 50,000 properties across the United States.

Using satisfaction information from thousands of renter reviews on ApartmentRatings.com, combined with information from the U.S. Census Bureau about apartment vacancy rates and affordability, the ApartmentRatings.com study analyzed and created a renter's livability and satisfaction index for 138 U.S. cities and ranked them against each other. For the full list of scores and rankings by satisfaction, affordability and vacancy, see: http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate...ities2006.html

btb87 · #2 12-09-2006, 08:53 AM

Both of my Sisters-in-law live in Greensboro, and the housing and renting appears to be a bit more affordable. One lives in a very nice apartment and it doesn't cost a lot, as this study shows. I'm wondering if it's because Greensboro has several colleges/universites in the area.

Steeltrap · #3 12-09-2006, 10:50 PM

Three of the worst cities are in my county. I sure wish that I could have my own place, particularly because I have a situation that may call for one

. But one-bedrooms generally run well over $1K, and I just don't see that as a good use of my money.

neosoul · #4 12-10-2006, 09:24 AM

looks like I might be moving to Greenboro NC...

FeeFee · #5 12-10-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Three of the worst cities are in my county. I sure wish that I could have my own place, particularly because I have a situation that may call for one

. But one-bedrooms generally run well over $1K, and I just don't see that as a good use of my money.

$1K is the average going rate for a 1bedroom apartment in NYC, at least outside of Manhattan.

SummerChild · #6 12-13-2006, 11:32 PM

Well alright Soror!! We'll have to PM about this.
SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Three of the worst cities are in my county. I sure wish that I could have my own place, particularly because I have a situation that may call for one

. But one-bedrooms generally run well over $1K, and I just don't see that as a good use of my money.

firecracker08 · #7 12-14-2006, 08:56 AM

In October, I became a home owner. We've fixed the plumbing, replaced the toilet, and spent countless hours at Home Depot Hell, but I wouldnt trade it for the world!

Emory Kappa · #8 12-14-2006, 11:37 AM

Please excuse the board crash. I work in the apartment industry, so saw this thread's title and had to check it out.

I personally wouldn't have much faith in anything written by Katie Bencken, given my past interactions with her. So, don't feel bad if your city doesn't fall on the "good" list, and don't move to Greensboro because of its place on the list.

BrooklynCutie · #9 12-16-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeeFee

$1K is the average going rate for a 1bedroom apartment in NYC, at least outside of Manhattan.

I am totally surprised that NYC wasn't one of the top contenders for Worst cities for renters. As FeeFee mention the average rate for a 1 bedroom outside of Manhattan is $1k and if you want to live in Manhattan try doubling the price. I personally know someone living who lives in Manhattan and is paying $3K a month for a studio!

FeeFee · #10 12-18-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrooklynCutie

I am totally surprised that NYC wasn't one of the top contenders for Worst cities for renters. As FeeFee mention the average rate for a 1 bedroom outside of Manhattan is $1k and if you want to live in Manhattan try doubling the price. I personally know someone living who lives in Manhattan and is paying $3K a month for a studio!

$3K for a STUDIO???

D-A-Y-U-M!!!!!

That person must be making hella $$$$$ to comfortably afford that kind of rent.

BrooklynCutie · #11 12-18-2006, 11:56 PM

LOL...Actually she only making the hella money now...when she first moved there...she was a law student...Student Loans paid the rent!

Munchkin03 · #12 12-19-2006, 10:25 PM

Yeah, I'm about to move into a studio outside of Manhattan. I'm paying less than $1000 now, which has spoiled me like no other. Manhattan is weird because you pay so much for so little. I know people who pay $2K for a one-bedroom and still have the cockroaches. EWWWW.

As bad as it is here, though, I think Cali is worse.

ADqtPiMel · #13 12-19-2006, 11:55 PM

DC's pretty awful too - I pay $1600/month for a 1-bedroom, although I live in one of the most popular areas in the city.

tld221 · #14 12-21-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

Study Reveals the 25 Most Renter-Friendly Cities
By Katie Bencken

Where's the best city in the US for renters? Greensboro, North Carolina. Following close behind are Columbus, Georgia, Cincinnati, Ohio, Lawrence, Kansas and Athens, Georgia.

Ive been thinking about NC for the longest time. I'm so ready to be out of NYC for a minute. any NC-ers out there who'd recommend it? maybe it would be a good start, for graduate school at least.

1browngirl · #15 12-21-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld221

Ive been thinking about NC for the longest time. I'm so ready to be out of NYC for a minute. any NC-ers out there who'd recommend it? maybe it would be a good start, for graduate school at least.

Yeah Soror! Come on down to Charlotte!! You can't beat NC, close proximity to the mountains and the beaches, good weather (although if it snows you can look forward to the city shutting down completely and no water, bread or milk at the grocery store, lol), great cost of living, and a host of colleges to choose from for grad school.