Rent in these cities commands a significant premium, driven by strong job markets, limited housing supply, or high demand from growing populations. While expensive, many of these cities also offer higher incomes. The real question is whether the earnings keep pace with the cost. Check the rent-to-income column to see.
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Rent-to-Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino, CA | $3,501 | $231,139 | 18.2% | 58,886 |
| 2 | Danville, CA | $3,501 | $223,206 | 18.8% | 43,426 |
| 3 | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | $3,501 | $175,307 | 24% | 41,259 |
| 4 | Foster City, CA | $3,501 | $193,633 | 21.7% | 32,964 |
| 5 | Southlake, TX | $3,501 | $250,001 | 16.8% | 31,044 |
| 6 | Los Altos, CA | $3,501 | $250,001 | 16.8% | 30,736 |
| 7 | Saratoga, CA | $3,501 | $241,348 | 17.4% | 30,335 |
| 8 | Nocatee, FL | $3,501 | $131,488 | 32% | 25,581 |
| 9 | Manhattan Beach, CA | $3,492 | $193,904 | 21.6% | 34,584 |
| 10 | McLean, VA | $3,376 | $250,001 | 16.2% | 50,232 |
| 11 | Palo Alto, CA | $3,328 | $220,408 | 18.1% | 67,231 |
| 12 | Parkland, FL | $3,306 | $200,156 | 19.8% | 35,799 |
| 13 | East Honolulu, HI | $3,249 | $158,398 | 24.6% | 50,961 |
| 14 | Mountain House, CA | $3,232 | $171,675 | 22.6% | 25,108 |
| 15 | Colleyville, TX | $3,194 | $203,566 | 18.8% | 25,906 |
| 16 | Dublin, CA | $3,174 | $205,046 | 18.6% | 70,542 |
| 17 | Menlo Park, CA | $3,156 | $206,588 | 18.3% | 32,775 |
| 18 | Newport Beach, CA | $3,146 | $158,461 | 23.8% | 84,304 |
| 19 | Walnut, CA | $3,120 | $133,762 | 28% | 27,857 |
| 20 | Milpitas, CA | $3,112 | $176,822 | 21.1% | 78,216 |
| 21 | Pacifica, CA | $3,080 | $156,819 | 23.6% | 37,527 |
| 22 | San Mateo, CA | $3,079 | $152,669 | 24.2% | 103,555 |
| 23 | Kailua CDP (Honolulu County), HI | $3,068 | $146,615 | 25.1% | 39,762 |
| 24 | Sunnyvale, CA | $3,065 | $181,862 | 20.2% | 153,455 |
| 25 | Eastvale, CA | $3,065 | $161,322 | 22.8% | 70,179 |
| 26 | Plainview, NY | $3,026 | $185,531 | 19.6% | 26,251 |
| 27 | Pleasanton, CA | $3,017 | $186,206 | 19.4% | 77,500 |
| 28 | French Valley, CA | $3,016 | $132,605 | 27.3% | 42,550 |
| 29 | Mill Creek East, WA | $3,013 | $183,466 | 19.7% | 25,461 |
| 30 | Hicksville, NY | $3,005 | $148,008 | 24.4% | 43,868 |
| 31 | Hercules, CA | $3,003 | $130,583 | 27.6% | 26,245 |
| 32 | Santa Clara, CA | $2,985 | $173,670 | 20.6% | 129,239 |
| 33 | Mountain View, CA | $2,975 | $179,917 | 19.8% | 82,363 |
| 34 | Los Gatos, CA | $2,969 | $207,891 | 17.1% | 32,773 |
| 35 | Redwood City, CA | $2,959 | $150,840 | 23.5% | 82,423 |
| 36 | University Park, TX | $2,940 | $250,001 | 14.1% | 25,104 |
| 37 | Eastern Goleta Valley, CA | $2,924 | $136,839 | 25.6% | 29,411 |
| 38 | San Ramon, CA | $2,916 | $197,358 | 17.7% | 85,734 |
| 39 | Cerritos, CA | $2,909 | $133,953 | 26.1% | 48,340 |
| 40 | Fremont, CA | $2,905 | $176,350 | 19.8% | 228,518 |
| 41 | Belmont, CA | $2,894 | $207,609 | 16.7% | 27,505 |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $2,893 | $129,647 | 26.8% | 308,160 |
| 43 | Dana Point, CA | $2,883 | $127,246 | 27.2% | 32,883 |
| 44 | Lafayette, CA | $2,855 | $222,393 | 15.4% | 25,277 |
| 45 | South Riding, VA | $2,853 | $190,701 | 18% | 34,200 |
| 46 | Sienna, TX | $2,853 | $171,709 | 19.9% | 25,025 |
| 47 | Wellesley, MA | $2,849 | $250,001 | 13.7% | 29,906 |
| 48 | Paramus, NJ | $2,845 | $139,707 | 24.4% | 26,500 |
| 49 | South San Francisco, CA | $2,833 | $135,909 | 25% | 64,487 |
| 50 | Laguna Niguel, CA | $2,819 | $140,605 | 24.1% | 64,023 |
Key Takeaways
- Cupertino, CA ranks #1 with median rent of $3,501.
- The top 5 cities are: Cupertino, CA; Danville, CA; Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Foster City, CA; Southlake, TX.
- The gap between #1 ($3,501) and #50 ($2,819) shows significant variation even within the top 50.
- Median household income in the top-ranked city is $231,139, with a population of 58,886.
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.