📊 Zumper Rent Data 2026: National Trends & City Rankings
Real rent data from Zumper’s National Rent Report. Updated monthly — see where rents are rising, falling, and what it means for you.
🇺🇸 National Rent Trends 2026: Market Stabilizing
According to Zumper’s latest National Rent Report (April 2026), the rental market is showing clear signs of stabilization after the unusual cuts of 2025 [citation:2][citation:5].
📈 Rents Turning Around
After 10 straight months of annual declines, the median one-bedroom rent ticked up 0.4% to $1,508 in April 2026. Two-bedroom rents grew 0.8% to $1,895 [citation:5].
📊 Still Below Peaks
One-bedroom rents are just 2% below December 2024’s peak of $1,538. Two-bedroom rents are nearing their August 2024 high of $1,915 [citation:5].
🏗️ Supply Normalizing
After 10 consecutive quarters of elevated apartment deliveries, new supply has begun to normalize — slowly drawing down excess inventory [citation:5].
🏙️ Most Expensive Rental Markets (April 2026)
Here are the top 15 most expensive cities for renters according to Zumper’s latest data [citation:5]:
| Rank | City | 1BR Rent | 2BR Rent | YoY Change (1BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $4,540 | $5,500 | -2.2% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $3,850 | $5,340 | +19.9% 🔥 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $3,000 | $3,600 | +4.9% |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $3,000 | $3,200 | -3.5% |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $2,580 | $3,230 | -4.4% |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $2,550 | $3,380 | -5.2% |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $2,440 | $3,400 | -3.9% |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $2,320 | $3,000 | +1.3% |
| 9 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $2,300 | $3,000 | +7.0% |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $2,220 | $2,500 | +8.3% 🔥 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,210 | $3,030 | -3.9% |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $2,200 | $2,990 | -2.2% |
| 13 | Santa Ana, CA | $2,110 | $2,800 | -4.1% |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | $2,100 | $2,670 | +0.5% |
| 15 | Oakland, CA | $2,000 | $2,610 | +1.5% |
🔍 Note: Los Angeles fell out of the top 10 for the first time ever due to record new apartment supply and softening demand [citation:5].
📈 Fastest Growing Rental Markets
Not all markets are cooling. Some cities are seeing dramatic rent increases [citation:2][citation:5]:
🔥 San Francisco, CA
1BR up 19.9% YoY to $3,850
2BR up 22.8% YoY to $5,340
Highest rents ever recorded in Zumper data
🏆 Chicago, IL
1BR up 8.3% YoY to $2,220
Re-entered top 10 for first time in 2 years
🌺 Honolulu, HI
1BR up 7.0% YoY to $2,300
Entered top 10 as 9th priciest market
🏛️ Providence, RI
1BR up 5.1% YoY to $1,850
Boston spillover market gaining traction
📉 Markets Where Rents Are Falling
Supply-heavy Sun Belt and Mountain West markets are still absorbing excess inventory [citation:2][citation:4]:
| City | 1BR Rent | YoY Change | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $1,420 (est) | -13.2% | Excess supply from building boom |
| Memphis, TN | $1,100 (est) | -9.5% | Concessions include 3 months free rent |
| Chattanooga, TN | $1,450 (est) | -8.7% | Supply outpacing demand |
| Nashville, TN | $1,500 | -5.7% | 8,200+ new units delivered, vacancy at 20-year high |
| Denver, CO | $1,580 | -7.1% | Mountain West supply overhang |
| Austin, TX | $1,480 | -1.3% | Sun Belt normalization |
🏘️ Zumper Neighborhood-Level Data: Charlotte, NC
Zumper also provides granular neighborhood data. Here’s how rents vary across Charlotte neighborhoods [citation:1][citation:6][citation:9]:
| Neighborhood | Median Rent | 1BR Rent | 2BR Rent | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilworth | $2,191 | $2,025 | $2,895 | +5% |
| Belmont | $1,975 | $1,595 | $1,975 | +1% |
| University City North | $1,737 | $1,503 | $1,675 | +20% |
💡 Pro tip: You can find similar detailed rent data for any US city using Zumper’s rent research tool. The platform shows price distributions, per-square-foot costs, and historical trends [citation:1].
📊 Key Takeaways from Zumper’s 2026 Data
1️⃣ Coastal Markets Are Rebounding
San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Chicago are seeing rent growth. Limited new supply in these markets is driving competition [citation:5].
2️⃣ Sun Belt Still Cooling
Phoenix, Austin, Nashville, and other high-supply Sun Belt markets are still working through excess inventory. Great time to rent in these cities [citation:2].
3️⃣ Fee Transparency Is Growing
Zumper now displays “Total Monthly Leasing Price” including mandatory fees, helping renters compare true costs [citation:3][citation:7].
4️⃣ National Rents May Hit All-Time Highs
With one-bedroom rents just 2% below peak, 2026 could see record national rents before summer ends [citation:5].
🔍 New: Fee Transparency on Zumper
Zumper now requires property listings to display the “Total Monthly Leasing Price” — including all mandatory fees [citation:3][citation:7].
- ✅ No more hidden “application fees” or “amenity fees”
- ✅ Compare true costs across apartments
- ✅ Already required in Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts — expanding nationwide
- ✅ Zumper also offers a cost calculator on listings to estimate total monthly expenses