Average Rent by State in the U.S. (2026): Rent Prices by State

The average rent by state varies considerably across the United States, with housing costs influenced by local demand, housing supply, income levels, population growth, apartment sizes, and regional economic conditions. In the latest World Population Review Average Rent by State 2026 data, Massachusetts has the highest listed average rent at $2,841 per month, followed by California at $2,619 and New York at $2,464. At the lower end of the ranking, Oklahoma has the lowest listed average rent at $1,059 per month.

The differences between states are substantial. Massachusetts’ listed average is about $1,782 higher per month than Oklahoma’s, showing how dramatically rental costs can differ depending on location.

This average rent by state ranking also includes the average apartment size reported by World Population Review, allowing renters to compare both monthly rental costs and the typical size of apartments.

What Is the Average Rent by State?

Average rent by state refers to the typical monthly rental cost reported for residential apartments within each state. It provides a broad way to compare housing costs across the country.

However, an average rent figure should not be interpreted as the exact amount every renter pays.

Actual rent can vary according to:

• Apartment size
• Number of bedrooms
• City
• Neighborhood
• Building age
• Property type
• Amenities
• Local demand
• Rental supply
• Location relative to employment centers
• Local income levels

For example, a statewide average can combine expensive metropolitan housing markets with substantially less expensive smaller cities and rural communities.

States With the Highest Average Rent

The highest listed average rents are concentrated heavily in the Northeast, West Coast and other high-cost housing markets.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has the highest average rent in the World Population Review table, at $2,841 per month. The average apartment size is listed at 881 square feet.

The state’s high rental costs are influenced by expensive housing markets around major employment and educational centers.

Boston and surrounding communities are particularly important to the state’s rental market.

California

California ranks second at $2,619 per month, with an average apartment size of 853 square feet.

California contains several major metropolitan areas with substantial housing demand, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose.

Because statewide figures combine many different housing markets, individual cities can differ considerably from the state average.

New York

New York ranks third with an average rent of $2,464 per month and an average apartment size of 888 square feet.

New York City’s rental market is particularly significant, but the statewide figure also includes communities outside the metropolitan region.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia appears fourth in the source ranking at $2,452 per month, with an average apartment size of 747 square feet.

Although Washington, D.C., is not a state, it is included in the World Population Review table and is useful for comparison with state-level rental markets.

New Jersey

New Jersey ranks fifth at $2,413 per month, with an average apartment size of 869 square feet.

Its location near New York City and Philadelphia places many communities within major employment and transportation networks.

Top 10 Highest-Rent States and District

The ten highest entries in the World Population Review table are:

1. Massachusetts — $2,841
2. California — $2,619
3. New York — $2,464
4. District of Columbia — $2,452
5. New Jersey — $2,413
6. Rhode Island — $2,178
7. New Hampshire — $2,138
8. Connecticut — $2,130
9. Illinois — $2,027
10. Washington — $2,023

These markets all have listed rents above $2,000 per month.

States With the Lowest Average Rent

The lowest listed rental costs in the World Population Review data are concentrated primarily in the central and southern United States.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has the lowest listed average rent in the table at $1,059 per month. The average apartment size is 858 square feet.

Arkansas

Arkansas ranks near the bottom with an average rent of $1,128 per month and an average apartment size of 895 square feet.

North Dakota

North Dakota has an average listed rent of $1,162 per month, while its average apartment size is relatively large at 964 square feet.

South Dakota

South Dakota’s average rent is $1,201 per month, with an average apartment size of 915 square feet.

Iowa

Iowa has an average listed rent of $1,226 per month and an average apartment size of 897 square feet.

Top 10 States With the Lowest Listed Rent

The ten lowest entries in the source table are:

Source: World Population Review.

Average Rent and Apartment Size

Rent should not be viewed separately from the amount of living space.

The World Population Review table provides both average monthly rent and average apartment size. This makes it possible to see that a lower monthly rent does not necessarily mean a smaller apartment.

For example:

• Georgia has an average rent of $1,637 and an average apartment size of 1,026 square feet.
• Mississippi has an average rent of $1,324 and an average apartment size of 1,003 square feet.
• South Carolina has an average rent of $1,611 and an average apartment size of 1,015 square feet.
• North Dakota has an average rent of $1,162 and an average apartment size of 964 square feet.
• Massachusetts has an average rent of $2,841 and an average apartment size of 881 square feet.

This illustrates why comparing rent alone does not provide a complete picture of housing value.

States With the Largest Listed Apartments

Among the states shown in the World Population Review table, several have average apartment sizes exceeding 1,000 square feet.

Source: World Population Review.

These figures demonstrate that rental affordability involves more than the monthly price. Apartment size, location and local income are also important.

Why Does Rent Differ So Much by State?

There is no single reason why rental prices vary across the United States.

Several economic and demographic factors contribute to differences.

Housing Supply

When housing construction does not keep pace with demand, available rental units can become more expensive.

Areas with limited land, restrictive development conditions or strong population growth may experience greater pressure on rental prices.

Population Growth

States and metropolitan areas experiencing strong population growth can face increasing demand for housing.

When new housing construction is slower than household formation, rents can rise.

Local Income

Higher-income regions can support higher housing prices because households may have greater purchasing power.

However, high income does not automatically mean that housing is affordable. A state can have both high wages and very high rents.

Employment Opportunities

Major employment centers attract workers and households.

Technology, finance, healthcare, education, government and other high-paying industries can contribute to strong demand for housing near employment centers.

Land and Construction Costs

Construction costs, land prices, labor expenses, building regulations and financing conditions all influence the cost of developing rental housing.

Urbanization

Large metropolitan areas generally have higher rental costs than many smaller communities.

A statewide average can therefore conceal major differences between large cities and rural areas.

Average Rent by Region

The rental landscape becomes easier to understand when states are considered geographically.

Northeast

The Northeast contains many of the highest-rent states in the country.

Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut all appear near the top of the World Population Review ranking.

The region includes major metropolitan markets such as Boston, New York City and Washington’s broader economic area.

West

The West includes some of the country’s most expensive housing markets.

California ranks second in the World Population Review table, while Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada also appear in the upper or middle portions of the ranking.

South

Southern states show considerable variation.

Florida and Virginia have listed averages close to or above $1,900, while states such as Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana appear much lower.

Midwest

Midwestern states generally appear in the middle or lower portions of the ranking.

Illinois is an exception in the upper-cost group, while states such as Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Michigan have lower listed averages.

Average Rent by State vs. Asking Rent

Average rent and asking rent are not necessarily the same thing.

Average rent can describe rents being paid or an average across a particular dataset.

Asking rent generally refers to the advertised price landlords are requesting for available units.

A renter moving into a new apartment may therefore encounter a price that differs from a statewide average.

World Population Review specifically notes that its average-rent data and its bedroom-specific rental data come from different sources, meaning the figures do not always align exactly.

Why Statewide Rent Averages Should Be Used Carefully

A statewide average is useful for broad comparisons, but it should not be treated as a precise forecast of what a renter will pay in a particular city.

For example, the cost of renting in a major metropolitan area can be substantially different from the cost in a smaller town within the same state.

A renter comparing locations should consider:

• Statewide rent
• City-level rent
• Neighborhood-level prices
• Apartment size
• Number of bedrooms
• Utilities
• Parking
• Transportation
• Local taxes
• Insurance
• Household income

This provides a more complete picture of housing affordability.

Rent by Bedroom Count

Rent also changes significantly according to the number of bedrooms.

A studio or one-bedroom apartment generally costs less than a larger two- or three-bedroom unit, although local market conditions can produce exceptions.

World Population Review provides separate rental information by bedroom count, but it notes that these bedroom-specific values and the overall average rent come from different sources.

Therefore, the overall state average should not be interpreted as the expected price of a particular one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment.

Average Rent and Cost of Living

Housing is one component of the broader cost of living.

A state with relatively inexpensive rent may have different costs for:

• Transportation
• Utilities
• Groceries
• Healthcare
• Insurance
• Taxes
• Childcare
• Other household expenses

World Population Review’s page separately discusses the Cost of Living Index and the Housing Index. The Housing Index specifically reflects variations in housing costs, including rent and home prices.

This distinction matters because rent alone cannot measure the complete cost of living.

Rent Affordability

A rent figure becomes more meaningful when compared with household income.

For example, $1,500 per month may represent a manageable housing cost for one household but a significant financial burden for another.

Common affordability measures examine housing costs relative to household income.

A household paying a high percentage of its income toward housing may have less money available for:

• Food
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Savings
• Education
• Emergency expenses
• Retirement

Therefore, the state with the lowest average rent is not necessarily the state with the lowest overall living costs or the greatest financial affordability for every household.

Most Expensive Rent vs. Cheapest Rent

The gap between the highest and lowest listed values in the World Population Review table is substantial.

Massachusetts has the highest listed average at $2,841, while Oklahoma has the lowest at $1,059.

That represents a monthly difference of:

$2,841 − $1,059 = $1,782

Over a year, the difference would be:

$1,782 × 12 = $21,384

This illustrates the importance of location when comparing household housing expenses.

Rent Trends in the United States

World Population Review’s page also discusses the broader rise in rental costs and attributes rising rents to the relationship between housing demand and supply. Its discussion notes that rising home prices can keep potential buyers in the rental market, increasing rental demand.

However, rental trends are not identical in every state or city.

Local construction, population changes, migration, employment, housing availability and economic conditions can all affect rental prices.

Average Rent by State: Key Takeaways

The major findings from the World Population Review ranking include:

• Massachusetts has the highest listed average rent at $2,841 per month.
• California ranks second at $2,619.
• New York ranks third at $2,464.
• District of Columbia ranks fourth at $2,452, although it is not a state.
• New Jersey ranks fifth at $2,413.
• The listed average exceeds $2,000 in the top ten entries.
• Oklahoma has the lowest listed average at $1,059.
• Arkansas follows at $1,128.
• North Dakota has a listed average of $1,162.
• Apartment sizes differ substantially among states.
• Georgia has the largest listed average apartment size in the table at 1,026 square feet.
• The source identifies the page as 2026 but notes that its average apartment-rent data are for 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions About Average Rent by State

What state has the highest average rent?

According to World Population Review’s Average Rent by State 2026 table, Massachusetts has the highest listed average rent at $2,841 per month.

What state has the lowest average rent?

Oklahoma has the lowest listed average rent in the World Population Review table at $1,059 per month.

What is the average rent in California?

The listed average rent in California is $2,619 per month, according to World Population Review.

What is the average rent in New York?

New York has a listed average rent of $2,464 per month in the World Population Review ranking.

What is the average rent in Texas?

Texas has a listed average rent of $1,438 per month and an average apartment size of 891 square feet.

What is the average rent in Florida?

Florida’s listed average rent is $1,962 per month, with an average apartment size of 983 square feet.

What is the average rent in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has a listed average rent of $2,841 per month, making it the highest entry in the World Population Review table.

What is the average rent in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma has a listed average rent of $1,059 per month, the lowest figure in the displayed World Population Review state table.

Which state has the largest average apartment size?

Among the states displayed in the World Population Review table, Georgia has the largest average apartment size at 1,026 square feet.

Is the average rent the same as asking rent?

No. Average rent and asking rent can measure different aspects of the rental market. Asking rent generally refers to prices advertised for available units, while an average-rent figure can represent a broader rental dataset.

Why is rent more expensive in some states?

Rental costs can be influenced by housing supply, demand, population growth, income, employment opportunities, construction costs, land prices and local housing-market conditions.

Does the cheapest rent mean the cheapest state to live in?

Not necessarily. Rent is only one component of household expenses. Transportation, utilities, groceries, healthcare, taxes and other costs can differ significantly between states.

Are these 2026 rental prices?

World Population Review labels the page Average Rent by State 2026, but its data note states that the average apartment-rent data are for 2025. This distinction should be kept in mind when using the ranking.

Why can different websites show different average rents?

Different rental websites use different datasets, methodologies, property types and geographic coverage. World Population Review itself notes that its overall average-rent figures and bedroom-specific rental figures come from different sources.

Sources:

• World Population Review — Average Rent by State 2026
• RentCafe — Average Rent in the U.S.
• Missouri Economic Research and Information Center — Cost of Living Data Series
• RentData — Rent Data by State