Rent Growth Picks Up Again But Remains Below the Inflation Rate and Average Wage Growth: Median single-family rents rose to $2,135, an increase of $36 or 1.7% compared to the same period last year.
Midwest and Northeast Rents Grew the Fastest: Rents in the Midwest increased the most (+6.1%), followed by the Northeast (+4.6%) and the Pacific region (+3.1%). Median rents in the Rocky Mountain region rose by 1.1%, while rents in the Southwest remained flat.
Vacancies Hit Record Highs: Vacancy rates for single-family homes continued their upward trend in 2025, reaching 6.3% in the first quarter, the highest level since 2016.
Boston, MA saw the highest annual rent growth among large cities, with 3-bedroom single-family rents averaging $4,500—up 12.5% year-over-year. The increase was partly due to larger homes listed and a low rental inventory, making the data more sensitive to fluctuations. Staten Island, NY (+9.4%) and Long Beach, CA (+9.0%) followe
Source: Rentometer: Rentometer Mid-Year Report 2025: National Trends in Single-Family Rental Markets
