Cities where renting is most affordable — population 25,000+, ranked by lowest median monthly rent (Zillow ZORI).
Rent under $1,000/mo in a city of 25,000+ is uncommon. These markets are mostly Rust Belt, Deep South, and rural Midwest — places where housing has been cheap for decades.
Pair low rent with the local job market and momentum signals before committing.
1Pine Bluff, ARPine Bluff · pop 38,78542Cooling$76,187median home$725/momedian rent 2Hutchinson, KSHutchinson · pop 39,56171Rising$149,978median home$786/momedian rent 3Danville, ILDanville · pop 27,98146Cooling$78,099median home$854/momedian rent 4Marion, INMarion · pop 28,21670Rising$135,891median home$860/momedian rent 5Richmond, INRichmond · pop 35,56174Rising$158,766median home$874/momedian rent 6Wheeling, WVWheeling · pop 26,06061Stable$148,110median home$885/momedian rent 7Mansfield, OHMansfield · pop 47,59377Rising$150,626median home$901/momedian rent 8Russellville, ARRussellville · pop 29,44269Rising$214,184median home$914/momedian rent 9Waterloo, IAWaterloo-Cedar Falls · pop 67,47763Rising$145,863median home$915/momedian rent 10St. Joseph, MOSt. Joseph · pop 71,09872Rising$183,715median home$915/momedian rent 11Albany, GAAlbany · pop 66,70554Stable$131,279median home$917/momedian rent 12Bay City, MIBay City · pop 32,08673Rising$123,251median home$940/momedian rent 13Aberdeen, SDAberdeen · pop 27,91970Rising$242,197median home$940/momedian rent 14Granite City, ILSt. Louis · pop 26,85456Stable$113,227median home$945/momedian rent 15Davenport, IADavenport-Moline-Rock Island · pop 100,93862Rising$191,117median home$952/momedian rent 16Pekin, ILPeoria · pop 31,26674Rising$139,291median home$957/momedian rent 17Jamestown, NYJamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia · pop 27,69968Rising$120,631median home$957/momedian rent 18Neenah, WIOshkosh-Neenah · pop 27,50272Rising$307,558median home$962/momedian rent 19Terre Haute, INTerre Haute · pop 58,53164Rising$158,255median home$965/momedian rent 20Muncie, INMuncie · pop 65,32072Rising$153,794median home$966/momedian rent 21Parkersburg, WVParkersburg-Vienna · pop 28,83458Stable$147,532median home$971/momedian rent 22Decatur, ILDecatur · pop 68,76370Rising$104,867median home$984/momedian rent 23East Chicago, INChicago-Naperville-Elgin · pop 25,76856Stable$130,011median home$992/momedian rent 24Austin, MNAustin · pop 26,69076Rising$189,187median home$992/momedian rent 25Flint, MIFlint · pop 79,73557Stable$65,949median home$993/momedian rent 26Asheboro, NCGreensboro-High Point · pop 27,92870Rising$241,615median home$995/momedian rent 27Sheboygan, WISheboygan · pop 49,62476Rising$262,047median home$999/momedian rent 28Kokomo, INKokomo · pop 60,09373Rising$182,709median home$1,001/momedian rent 29Moline, ILDavenport-Moline-Rock Island · pop 42,44264Rising$150,933median home$1,003/momedian rent 30Wausau, WIWausau-Weston · pop 40,26279Hot$243,982median home$1,007/momedian rent 31Huntington, WVHuntington-Ashland · pop 44,94267Rising$138,553median home$1,011/momedian rent 32Canton, OHCanton-Massillon · pop 69,21170Rising$171,986median home$1,011/momedian rent 33Evansville, INEvansville · pop 115,39571Rising$200,657median home$1,013/momedian rent 34Quincy, ILQuincy · pop 38,78666Rising$178,872median home$1,015/momedian rent 35Edinburg, TXMcAllen-Edinburg-Mission · pop 108,73371Rising$217,077median home$1,018/momedian rent 36Anderson, INIndianapolis-Carmel-Anderson · pop 55,85174Rising$135,908median home$1,031/momedian rent 37Williamsport, PAWilliamsport · pop 27,62867Rising$206,484median home$1,032/momedian rent 38Saginaw, MISaginaw · pop 43,00174Rising$130,521median home$1,032/momedian rent 39Fort Smith, ARFort Smith · pop 90,50767Rising$195,664median home$1,034/momedian rent 40Massillon, OHCanton-Massillon · pop 32,75071Rising$216,229median home$1,037/momedian rent 41Salina, KSSalina · pop 46,10969Rising$175,877median home$1,038/momedian rent 42Jefferson City, MOJefferson City · pop 42,56476Rising$275,376median home$1,039/momedian rent 43Ames, IAAmes · pop 69,02666Rising$301,426median home$1,039/momedian rent 44Jacksonville, ARLittle Rock-North Little Rock-Conway · pop 29,12967Rising$170,281median home$1,040/momedian rent 45Minot, NDMinot · pop 47,44065Rising$276,116median home$1,040/momedian rent 46Elyria, OHCleveland-Elyria · pop 53,60471Rising$186,073median home$1,041/momedian rent 47Erie, PAErie · pop 92,94071Rising$202,235median home$1,047/momedian rent 48Hopkinsville, KYClarksville · pop 30,80070Rising$194,263median home$1,054/momedian rent 49Warren, OHYoungstown-Warren-Boardman · pop 38,68379Hot$125,835median home$1,056/momedian rent 50Goshen, INElkhart-Goshen · pop 34,45873Rising$277,453median home$1,057/momedian rent Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census place population. State tax data from Tax Foundation.