In their 2025 Year-End Report, Rentcafe says apartment hunting remained intense across the U.S. this year, with Miami and Chicago leading the pack and Manhattan rising fast. Fortunately, flexibility & convenience are keeping renters “in the game,” even as demand for apartments continues to climb in the hottest rental markets of 2025. So, what did the rental market look like in 2025, and what about 2026?
From renters chasing big-city perks to those seeking better options in smaller locations across the country, finding a place to call home was no easy task this year — even with more than half a million new apartments added nationwide.
Some Key takeaways:
- The U.S. rental market stayed red-hot in 2025, reaching a Rental Competitiveness (RCI) score of 75.2, up from 74.4 last year.
- Miami once again ranks as America’s hottest rental market (RCI score 92.9), but Chicago and its suburbs are close behind, proving the Midwest’s growing appeal for apartment hunters.
- The Suburban Twin Cities is the fastest-rising rental market, followed by San Francisco.
Click here to read the full report at Rentcafe.
