With millions of Americans continuing to rent rather than buy, Columbia has once again earned national recognition as one of the country’s best places for renters. The nearby city in Howard County was the only city in Maryland to make the list.
A new report from WalletHub ranks Columbia as the 5th best city to rent in the United States out of 182 cities analyzed. The personal finance company compared cities across 21 factors related to rental attractiveness and quality of life, including rental affordability, the difference between rental costs and mortgage payments, cost of living, and job availability.
Columbia performed especially well in the study’s Rental Market & Affordability category, ranking 2nd in the nation. The city also placed 39th nationally in the Quality of Life category, helping secure its overall top-five finish.
The report comes as approximately 46 million American households rent their homes, highlighting the importance of affordability, strong job markets, and access to amenities when choosing where to live.
Scottsdale, Arizona, claimed the top overall spot, followed by Gilbert, Arizona; Chandler, Arizona; Overland Park, Kansas; and Columbia. The remainder of the top 10 included Peoria, Arizona; Bismarck, North Dakota; Huntsville, Alabama; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Amarillo, Texas.
At the other end of the rankings, Detroit was named the nation’s worst city for renters, followed by Cleveland, Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis, and Akron, Ohio.
WalletHub’s annual rankings are designed to help prospective renters identify cities that offer the strongest combination of affordability, housing opportunities, employment prospects, and overall quality of life. To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-renters/23010
