These cities have the lowest median monthly rent in America according to Census Bureau data. Lower rent does not always mean lower quality of life. Many of these cities offer strong local economies and affordable housing markets that stretch your paycheck further. If you are looking to relocate on a budget, this list is a solid starting point.
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Rent-to-Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown, OH | $718 | $34,746 | 24.8% | 59,605 |
| 2 | Galesburg, IL | $719 | $45,213 | 19.1% | 29,653 |
| 3 | Bay City, MI | $739 | $47,904 | 18.5% | 32,445 |
| 4 | San Luis, AZ | $746 | $57,364 | 15.6% | 35,998 |
| 5 | Parkersburg, WV | $746 | $44,675 | 20% | 29,461 |
| 6 | Jamestown, NY | $755 | $44,878 | 20.2% | 28,401 |
| 7 | Warren, OH | $759 | $36,955 | 24.6% | 39,057 |
| 8 | Marion, IN | $760 | $43,349 | 21% | 27,384 |
| 9 | Granite City, IL | $761 | $60,490 | 15.1% | 26,670 |
| 10 | Bristol, TN | $764 | $55,007 | 16.7% | 27,490 |
| 11 | Jefferson City, MO | $766 | $67,205 | 13.7% | 42,565 |
| 12 | Austintown, OH | $767 | $50,855 | 18.1% | 30,215 |
| 13 | Mansfield, OH | $768 | $42,605 | 21.6% | 47,686 |
| 14 | Aberdeen, SD | $783 | $63,715 | 14.7% | 28,297 |
| 15 | Niagara Falls, NY | $784 | $48,535 | 19.4% | 48,198 |
| 16 | Florence, AL | $784 | $50,396 | 18.7% | 41,231 |
| 17 | Manitowoc, WI | $787 | $62,133 | 15.2% | 34,553 |
| 18 | Gadsden, AL | $787 | $38,699 | 24.4% | 33,617 |
| 19 | Henderson, KY | $788 | $47,176 | 20% | 27,994 |
| 20 | Altoona, PA | $789 | $50,171 | 18.9% | 43,508 |
| 21 | Pekin, IL | $792 | $58,355 | 16.3% | 31,812 |
| 22 | Eagle Pass, TX | $794 | $54,952 | 17.3% | 28,186 |
| 23 | Wheeling, WV | $795 | $48,498 | 19.7% | 26,670 |
| 24 | Decatur, IL | $796 | $50,809 | 18.8% | 70,368 |
| 25 | Springfield, OH | $805 | $45,883 | 21.1% | 58,410 |
| 26 | Danville, VA | $808 | $42,778 | 22.7% | 42,239 |
| 27 | Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT | $808 | $57,633 | 16.8% | 34,929 |
| 28 | Danville, IL | $809 | $44,239 | 21.9% | 28,663 |
| 29 | Richmond, IN | $815 | $46,395 | 21.1% | 35,551 |
| 30 | Paducah, KY | $817 | $51,243 | 19.1% | 26,894 |
| 31 | Rock Island, IL | $819 | $57,292 | 17.2% | 36,758 |
| 32 | East Chicago, IN | $820 | $41,071 | 24% | 26,158 |
| 33 | Monroe, LA | $823 | $36,521 | 27% | 47,241 |
| 34 | Quincy, IL | $824 | $56,372 | 17.5% | 39,188 |
| 35 | Greenville, MS | $824 | $36,297 | 27.2% | 28,833 |
| 36 | Williamsport, PA | $825 | $49,363 | 20.1% | 27,629 |
| 37 | Canton, OH | $826 | $39,754 | 24.9% | 70,105 |
| 38 | Muskogee, OK | $828 | $48,735 | 20.4% | 36,819 |
| 39 | Pine Bluff, AR | $831 | $41,250 | 24.2% | 40,436 |
| 40 | Athens, AL | $834 | $65,000 | 15.4% | 27,474 |
| 41 | Russellville, AR | $835 | $48,708 | 20.6% | 29,057 |
| 42 | Erie, PA | $836 | $43,397 | 23.1% | 94,156 |
| 43 | Lorain, OH | $839 | $45,799 | 22% | 65,207 |
| 44 | Winona, MN | $839 | $56,163 | 17.9% | 25,998 |
| 45 | Roswell, NM | $840 | $50,294 | 20% | 47,823 |
| 46 | Kingsport, TN | $843 | $50,436 | 20.1% | 55,807 |
| 47 | Massillon, OH | $846 | $55,308 | 18.4% | 32,177 |
| 48 | Marion, OH | $848 | $45,829 | 22.2% | 35,771 |
| 49 | Norfolk, NE | $850 | $62,175 | 16.4% | 25,962 |
| 50 | Fort Smith, AR | $852 | $52,692 | 19.4% | 89,496 |
Key Takeaways
- Youngstown, OH ranks #1 with median rent of $718.
- The top 5 cities are: Youngstown, OH; Galesburg, IL; Bay City, MI; San Luis, AZ; Parkersburg, WV.
- The gap between #1 ($718) and #50 ($852) shows significant variation even within the top 50.
- Median household income in the top-ranked city is $34,746, with a population of 59,605.
Methodology
Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All cities with valid data and populations above 25,000 are included. Rent-to-income ratio is calculated as (median gross rent x 12) / median household income. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.