Is it better to rent or buy in 2026?

The decision depends on interest rates, home prices, and your timeline. Generally, buying is better if you plan to stay 5-7+ years. Use our calculator to find your specific break-even point.

What is the 5% rule for renting vs buying?

The 5% rule states that unrecoverable costs of owning are roughly 5% of the home value annually (1% property tax, 1% maintenance, 3% cost of capital). If annual rent is less than 5% of the home price, renting may be cheaper.

Price-to-Rent Ratio by City (2026)

The price-to-rent ratio divides a home's purchase price by its annual rent. A ratio below 15 generally favors buying; above 20 generally favors renting. Use the table below to compare 500+ US cities and find where your housing dollar goes furthest.

500

Cities tracked

219×

Avg PTR (US)

Buy-favored cities

500

Rent-favored cities

PTR below 15 — Buy

Home prices are low relative to rents. Buying typically builds equity faster than renting costs.

PTR 15–20 — Neutral

The decision depends on your timeline, down payment, and local appreciation expectations.

PTR above 20 — Rent

High home prices relative to rents. Renting and investing the difference often outperforms buying.

Showing 500 of 500 cities

#		State		Signal
1	St. Clair Shores	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$230K	$3,247
2	Lansing	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$159K	$2,251
3	Detroit	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$95K	$1,200
4	Royal Oak	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$382K	$5,390
5	Ann Arbor	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$460K	$6,494
6	Livonia	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$313K	$4,412
7	Dearborn	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$251K	$3,544
8	Grand Rapids	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$290K	$4,094
9	Sterling Heights	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$302K	$4,267
10	Flint	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$58K	$812
11	Warren	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$187K	$2,640
12	Battle Creek	MI	71×	Rent Favored	$170K	$2,400
13	Grove City	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$400K	$3,151
14	Dayton	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$133K	$1,048
15	Cleveland	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$132K	$1,300
16	Toledo	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$133K	$1,044
17	Columbus	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$289K	$2,275
18	Springfield	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$167K	$1,316
19	Cincinnati	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$286K	$2,251
20	Green Township	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$278K	$2,190
21	Akron	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$147K	$1,158
22	Parma	OH	127×	Rent Favored	$213K	$1,674
23	Pittsburgh	PA	145×	Rent Favored	$258K	$1,783
24	Erie	PA	145×	Rent Favored	$150K	$1,036
25	Philadelphia	PA	145×	Rent Favored	$275K	$1,900
26	Allentown	PA	145×	Rent Favored	$266K	$1,838
27	Scranton	PA	145×	Rent Favored	$190K	$1,313
28	Memphis	TN	157×	Rent Favored	$185K	$1,400
29	Brooklyn Park	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$350K	$2,188
30	Ankeny	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$338K	$2,109
31	St. Cloud	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$250K	$1,562
32	Madison	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$445K	$2,781
33	Wichita	KS	160×	Rent Favored	$250K	$1,562
34	Kansas City	KS	160×	Rent Favored	$230K	$1,438
35	West Des Moines	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$330K	$2,062
36	Racine	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$220K	$1,375
37	Rochester	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$345K	$2,156
38	Bloomington	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$360K	$2,250
39	Sioux City	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$210K	$1,312
40	Lakeville	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$500K	$3,124
41	Waukesha	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$421K	$2,631
42	Iowa City	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$330K	$2,062
43	Lincoln	NE	160×	Rent Favored	$311K	$1,946
44	Council Bluffs	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$250K	$1,562
45	Green Bay	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$281K	$1,758
46	St. Paul	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$300K	$1,875
47	Cedar Rapids	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$190K	$1,188
48	Kenosha	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$281K	$1,753
49	Lenexa	KS	160×	Rent Favored	$510K	$3,188
50	Davenport	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$192K	$1,202
51	Woodbury	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$410K	$2,562
52	Olathe	KS	160×	Rent Favored	$450K	$2,813
53	Des Moines	IA	160×	Rent Favored	$217K	$1,356
54	Milwaukee	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$225K	$1,406
55	Maple Grove	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$446K	$2,789
56	Janesville	WI	160×	Rent Favored	$285K	$1,781
57	Topeka	KS	160×	Rent Favored	$190K	$1,187
58	Omaha	NE	160×	Rent Favored	$275K	$1,719
59	Minneapolis	MN	160×	Rent Favored	$341K	$2,134
60	Overland Park	KS	160×	Rent Favored	$463K	$2,891
61	Springfield	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$162K	$976
62	Chicago	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$365K	$2,200
63	Orland Park	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$405K	$2,439
64	Aurora	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$330K	$1,985
65	Joliet	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$308K	$1,854
66	Decatur	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$130K	$783
67	Peoria	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$150K	$904
68	Naperville	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$532K	$3,201
69	Rockford	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$170K	$1,024
70	Elgin	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$315K	$1,897
71	Bloomington	IL	166×	Rent Favored	$253K	$1,524
72	South Bend	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$172K	$1,025
73	Greenwood	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$283K	$1,686
74	Indianapolis	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$235K	$1,400
75	Fishers	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$415K	$2,472
76	Kokomo	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$142K	$846
77	Noblesville	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$390K	$2,323
78	Fort Wayne	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$210K	$1,251
79	Evansville	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$158K	$944
80	Westfield	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$488K	$2,910
81	Carmel	IN	168×	Rent Favored	$650K	$3,872
82	Joplin	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$180K	$982
83	St. Charles	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$334K	$1,820
84	Columbia	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$339K	$1,849
85	Blue Springs	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$330K	$1,800
86	Springfield	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$213K	$1,159
87	Independence	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$209K	$1,140
88	St. Peters	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$325K	$1,773
89	O'Fallon	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$345K	$1,882
90	St. Louis	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$253K	$1,380
91	Wentzville	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$364K	$1,984
92	Kansas City	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$280K	$1,500
93	Lee's Summit	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$411K	$2,240
94	St. Joseph	MO	183×	Rent Favored	$156K	$851
95	Lebanon	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$449K	$2,275
96	Johnson City	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$305K	$1,546
97	Kingsport	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$290K	$1,470
98	Franklin	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$900K	$4,561
99	Gallatin	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$439K	$2,225
100	Knoxville	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$309K	$1,566
101	Murfreesboro	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$431K	$2,186
102	Clarksville	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$320K	$1,622
103	Columbia	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$333K	$1,689
104	Spring Hill	TN	197×	Rent Favored	$508K	$2,576
105	Spring Hill	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$314K	$1,585
106	Palm Harbor	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$385K	$1,942
107	West Palm Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$440K	$2,219
108	Largo	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$352K	$1,775
109	Marion Oaks	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$289K	$1,458
110	The Villages	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$369K	$1,858
111	Miami Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$625K	$3,152
112	St. Cloud	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$383K	$1,929
113	Homestead	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$420K	$2,118
114	Deerfield Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$366K	$1,846
115	Gainesville	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$260K	$1,311
116	Liberty Triangle	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$292K	$1,475
117	Naples	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$1275K	$6,428
118	Sunrise	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$415K	$2,093
119	Riverview	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$397K	$2,000
120	Fort Lauderdale	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$600K	$3,026
121	Port St. Lucie	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$399K	$2,012
122	Haines City	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$324K	$1,632
123	Jupiter	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$585K	$2,950
124	Bradenton	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$340K	$1,715
125	St. Petersburg	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$400K	$2,017
126	Winter Haven	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$311K	$1,567
127	Boca Raton	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$700K	$3,530
128	Citrus Springs	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$259K	$1,306
129	Clermont	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$433K	$2,186
130	Lehigh Acres	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$310K	$1,563
131	North Port	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$335K	$1,690
132	Plantation	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$385K	$1,942
133	Titusville	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$300K	$1,513
134	Port Charlotte	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$270K	$1,362
135	Hialeah	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$459K	$2,312
136	New Smyrna Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$430K	$2,169
137	Palm Beach Gardens	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$875K	$4,413
138	Four Corners	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$420K	$2,118
139	Miramar	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$511K	$2,578
140	Sarasota	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$540K	$2,723
141	Hollywood	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$490K	$2,471
142	Lakeland	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$280K	$1,412
143	Deltona	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$300K	$1,513
144	Pompano Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$330K	$1,662
145	Horizon West	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$583K	$2,941
146	Palm Bay	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$320K	$1,614
147	Palm Coast	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$345K	$1,740
148	Cape Coral	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$370K	$1,866
149	Tallahassee	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$271K	$1,368
150	Coral Springs	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$570K	$2,875
151	Estero	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$520K	$2,623
152	Brandon	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$365K	$1,841
153	Boynton Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$370K	$1,866
154	Jacksonville	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$295K	$1,488
155	Daytona Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$327K	$1,649
156	Pembroke Pines	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$493K	$2,484
157	Panama City Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$408K	$2,059
158	Fort Myers	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$344K	$1,732
159	Destin	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$601K	$3,032
160	Melbourne	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$310K	$1,563
161	Bonita Springs	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$490K	$2,469
162	Poinciana	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$280K	$1,412
163	Wesley Chapel	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$405K	$2,043
164	Miami	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$620K	$2,900
165	Clearwater	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$387K	$1,952
166	Delray Beach	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$475K	$2,395
167	Sun City Center	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$251K	$1,267
168	Tampa	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$418K	$2,110
169	Davie	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$558K	$2,812
170	Orlando	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$400K	$2,017
171	Apopka	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$397K	$2,002
172	Lakewood Ranch	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$637K	$3,213
173	Tamarac	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$312K	$1,574
174	Venice	FL	198×	Rent Favored	$430K	$2,169
175	Toms River	NJ	200×	Rent Favored	$483K	$2,412
176	Manchester	NH	200×	Rent Favored	$440K	$2,200
177	Norwalk	CT	200×	Rent Favored	$620K	$3,100
178	Wilmington	DE	200×	Rent Favored	$259K	$1,292
179	Jonesboro	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$225K	$1,125
180	Waldorf	MD	200×	Rent Favored	$428K	$2,140
181	Georgetown	KY	200×	Rent Favored	$340K	$1,700
182	Birmingham	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$163K	$815
183	Newark	NJ	200×	Rent Favored	$575K	$2,875
184	Gulfport	MS	200×	Rent Favored	$191K	$954
185	Warner Robins	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$276K	$1,378
186	Baltimore	MD	200×	Rent Favored	$230K	$1,150
187	Billings	MT	200×	Rent Favored	$370K	$1,850
188	Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance)	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$207K	$1,037
189	Roanoke	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$226K	$1,129
190	Fort Smith	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$225K	$1,124
191	West Valley City	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$460K	$2,300
192	Kuna	ID	200×	Rent Favored	$446K	$2,230
193	Casper	WY	200×	Rent Favored	$317K	$1,585
194	Tuscaloosa	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$357K	$1,783
195	Coeur d'Alene	ID	200×	Rent Favored	$605K	$3,025
196	Reston	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$585K	$2,925
197	Bridgeport	CT	200×	Rent Favored	$400K	$2,000
198	Richmond	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$395K	$1,975
199	Warwick	RI	200×	Rent Favored	$400K	$2,000
200	Edmond	OK	200×	Rent Favored	$425K	$2,126
201	Sioux Falls	SD	200×	Rent Favored	$320K	$1,600
202	Saratoga Springs	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$467K	$2,337
203	Hampton	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$305K	$1,525
204	Rapid City	SD	200×	Rent Favored	$340K	$1,700
205	Augusta-Richmond County	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$205K	$1,025
206	Salt Lake City	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$618K	$3,090
207	Portsmouth	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$278K	$1,388
208	Little Rock	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$284K	$1,418
209	Columbia	MD	200×	Rent Favored	$510K	$2,550
210	Lehi	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$615K	$3,075
211	Lafayette	LA	200×	Rent Favored	$236K	$1,179
212	Bentonville	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$419K	$2,094
213	Providence	RI	200×	Rent Favored	$490K	$2,450
214	Suffolk	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$417K	$2,087
215	Sandy Springs	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$749K	$3,745
216	Atlanta	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$440K	$2,000
217	South Fulton	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$313K	$1,564
218	Metairie	LA	200×	Rent Favored	$335K	$1,675
219	Norman	OK	200×	Rent Favored	$291K	$1,453
220	Eagle Mountain	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$515K	$2,575
221	Fayetteville	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$423K	$2,112
222	Nashua	NH	200×	Rent Favored	$500K	$2,500
223	Boise	ID	200×	Rent Favored	$498K	$2,490
224	Montgomery	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$191K	$956
225	Lexington	KY	200×	Rent Favored	$340K	$1,698
226	Bismarck	ND	200×	Rent Favored	$323K	$1,612
227	Dundalk	MD	200×	Rent Favored	$230K	$1,150
228	Moore	OK	200×	Rent Favored	$231K	$1,155
229	Jersey City	NJ	200×	Rent Favored	$768K	$3,838
230	Frederick	MD	200×	Rent Favored	$446K	$2,230
231	Savannah	GA	200×	Rent Favored	$350K	$1,750
232	Virginia Beach	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$395K	$1,975
233	Hoover	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$435K	$2,175
234	Glen Burnie	MD	200×	Rent Favored	$416K	$2,078
235	Springdale	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$370K	$1,848
236	Stamford	CT	200×	Rent Favored	$750K	$3,750
237	Caldwell	ID	200×	Rent Favored	$395K	$1,977
238	Anchorage	AK	200×	Rent Favored	$420K	$2,100
239	Alexandria	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$637K	$3,185
240	Ogden	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$390K	$1,948
241	Broken Arrow	OK	200×	Rent Favored	$306K	$1,530
242	Cheyenne	WY	200×	Rent Favored	$382K	$1,908
243	Huntsville	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$340K	$1,700
244	Washington	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$530K	$2,650
245	West Jordan	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$537K	$2,685
246	Newport News	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$307K	$1,535
247	Santa Fe	NM	200×	Rent Favored	$602K	$3,010
248	Waterbury	CT	200×	Rent Favored	$297K	$1,482
249	Lexington-Fayette	KY	200×	Rent Favored	$339K	$1,696
250	Baton Rouge	LA	200×	Rent Favored	$235K	$1,175
251	New Orleans	LA	200×	Rent Favored	$280K	$1,400
252	Nampa	ID	200×	Rent Favored	$405K	$2,025
253	Norfolk	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$325K	$1,625
254	Madison	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$430K	$2,150
255	Lynchburg	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$278K	$1,391
256	Chesapeake	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$390K	$1,950
257	Oklahoma City	OK	200×	Rent Favored	$265K	$1,325
258	South Jordan	UT	200×	Rent Favored	$586K	$2,930
259	Bella Vista	AR	200×	Rent Favored	$380K	$1,900
260	Meridian	ID	200×	Rent Favored	$540K	$2,700
261	Shreveport	LA	200×	Rent Favored	$202K	$1,008
262	Gulf Shores	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$477K	$2,386
263	Tulsa	OK	200×	Rent Favored	$260K	$1,300
264	Arlington	VA	200×	Rent Favored	$790K	$3,950
265	Las Cruces	NM	200×	Rent Favored	$299K	$1,495
266	Mobile	AL	200×	Rent Favored	$217K	$1,082
267	Cheektowaga	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$250K	$1,221
268	New York	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$860K	$4,200
269	Ramapo	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$885K	$4,322
270	Albany	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$295K	$1,441
271	Buffalo	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$210K	$1,026
272	Amherst	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$335K	$1,636
273	Syracuse	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$210K	$1,027
274	Manhattan	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$1293K	$6,312
275	Rochester	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$174K	$850
276	Yonkers	NY	205×	Rent Favored	$635K	$3,101
277	Houston	TX	206×	Rent Favored	$350K	$1,700
278	Dallas	TX	208×	Rent Favored	$459K	$1,800
279	North Myrtle Beach	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$391K	$1,862
280	Spring Valley	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$425K	$2,024
281	Hilton Head Island	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$765K	$3,643
282	Winston-Salem	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$281K	$1,336
283	Durham	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$410K	$1,953
284	Paradise	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$400K	$1,905
285	Mount Pleasant	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$913K	$4,345
286	Myrtle Beach	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$255K	$1,214
287	Monroe	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$353K	$1,679
288	Asheville	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$458K	$2,179
289	Fuquay-Varina	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$464K	$2,210
290	Reno	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$541K	$2,575
291	North Charleston	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$323K	$1,537
292	Greenville	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$264K	$1,257
293	Gastonia	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$299K	$1,424
294	Charlotte	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$425K	$2,023
295	Enterprise	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$500K	$2,381
296	Henderson	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$505K	$2,405
297	Indian Trail	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$449K	$2,137
298	Wake Forest	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$475K	$2,262
299	Sparks	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$510K	$2,429
300	Huntersville	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$579K	$2,755
301	Cary	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$630K	$3,000
302	Concord	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$388K	$1,846
303	Summerville	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$365K	$1,738
304	Greenville	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$499K	$2,378
305	Sunrise Manor	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$381K	$1,814
306	Apex	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$545K	$2,595
307	Raleigh	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$455K	$2,167
308	Rock Hill	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$330K	$1,571
309	Leland	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$385K	$1,833
310	Fayetteville	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$235K	$1,117
311	Garner	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$419K	$1,993
312	Las Vegas	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$444K	$2,112
313	Greensboro	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$272K	$1,293
314	Bluffton	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$540K	$2,571
315	Wilmington	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$474K	$2,256
316	Charleston	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$622K	$2,962
317	High Point	NC	210×	Rent Favored	$256K	$1,217
318	Goose Creek	SC	210×	Rent Favored	$395K	$1,881
319	North Las Vegas	NV	210×	Rent Favored	$425K	$2,024
320	Sugar Land	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$443K	$1,999
321	Carrollton	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$405K	$1,830
322	Denton	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$370K	$1,672
323	San Angelo	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$242K	$1,091
324	Pearland	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$385K	$1,740
325	Allen	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$484K	$2,189
326	El Paso	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$255K	$1,152
327	McAllen	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$260K	$1,175
328	Missouri City	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$359K	$1,622
329	Brownsville	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$269K	$1,218
330	Lubbock	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$236K	$1,066
331	Temple	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$288K	$1,301
332	Abilene	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$240K	$1,084
333	Manvel	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$525K	$2,372
334	Princeton	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$320K	$1,446
335	New Braunfels	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$327K	$1,479
336	Longview	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$300K	$1,355
337	Conroe	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$296K	$1,336
338	Plano	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$523K	$2,361
339	League City	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$380K	$1,717
340	Garland	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$288K	$1,301
341	Spring	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$262K	$1,186
342	Rockwall	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$600K	$2,711
343	Bryan	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$310K	$1,400
344	Grand Prairie	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$357K	$1,615
345	Irving	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$360K	$1,627
346	Amarillo	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$235K	$1,061
347	Waco	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$275K	$1,243
348	Atascocita	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$292K	$1,319
349	Georgetown	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$400K	$1,807
350	Fort Worth	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$321K	$1,448
351	Porter	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$290K	$1,311
352	College Station	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$330K	$1,491
353	Frisco	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$675K	$3,050
354	Killeen	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$225K	$1,017
355	Wichita Falls	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$184K	$831
356	Arlington	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$335K	$1,514
357	Tyler	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$320K	$1,446
358	Mesquite	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$285K	$1,289
359	Round Rock	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$377K	$1,704
360	Mansfield	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$480K	$2,169
361	McKinney	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$480K	$2,169
362	The Woodlands	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$575K	$2,598
363	Galveston	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$408K	$1,841
364	Katy	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$320K	$1,446
365	San Antonio	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$264K	$1,193
366	Leander	TX	221×	Rent Favored	$415K	$1,875
367	Nashville	TN	238×	Rent Favored	$460K	$2,000
368	Plymouth	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$725K	$2,997
369	Springfield	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$315K	$1,302
370	Quincy	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$708K	$2,924
371	Worcester	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$450K	$1,860
372	Haverhill	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$580K	$2,398
373	Boston	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$857K	$3,100
374	Newton	MA	242×	Rent Favored	$1402K	$5,795
375	Buckeye	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$405K	$1,656
376	Green Valley	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$293K	$1,198
377	Sun City	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$275K	$1,124
378	Prescott Valley	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$456K	$1,863
379	Lake Havasu City	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$431K	$1,762
380	Sun City West	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$375K	$1,533
381	Tucson	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$321K	$1,310
382	Marana	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$413K	$1,687
383	Chandler	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$512K	$2,093
384	Maricopa	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$345K	$1,410
385	Surprise	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$420K	$1,717
386	Catalina Foothills	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$689K	$2,817
387	Gilbert	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$575K	$2,351
388	Scottsdale	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$899K	$3,675
389	Peoria	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$543K	$2,220
390	Glendale	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$432K	$1,765
391	Phoenix	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$465K	$1,900
392	Queen Creek	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$640K	$2,616
393	Tempe	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$469K	$1,915
394	San Tan Valley	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$420K	$1,717
395	Goodyear	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$469K	$1,919
396	Prescott	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$595K	$2,433
397	Yuma	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$293K	$1,198
398	Mesa	AZ	245×	Rent Favored	$458K	$1,871
399	Austin	TX	250×	Rent Favored	$534K	$2,100
400	Centennial	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$643K	$2,467
401	Pueblo	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$225K	$864
402	Aurora	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$450K	$1,728
403	Castle Rock	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$665K	$2,554
404	Lakewood	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$575K	$2,208
405	Denver	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$570K	$2,400
406	Littleton	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$597K	$2,291
407	Boulder	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$964K	$3,700
408	Parker	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$660K	$2,534
409	Commerce City	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$515K	$1,978
410	Thornton	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$542K	$2,081
411	Fort Collins	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$519K	$1,991
412	Greeley	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$430K	$1,651
413	Westminster	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$520K	$1,997
414	Arvada	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$600K	$2,304
415	Longmont	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$560K	$2,150
416	Highlands Ranch	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$655K	$2,515
417	Broomfield	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$680K	$2,611
418	Grand Junction	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$425K	$1,632
419	Loveland	CO	260×	Rent Favored	$470K	$1,804
420	Beaverton	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$564K	$2,014
421	Salem	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$440K	$1,571
422	Portland	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$515K	$1,839
423	Eugene	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$474K	$1,693
424	Bend	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$680K	$2,429
425	Washington, DC	DC	280×	Rent Favored	$700K	$2,500
426	Gresham	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$478K	$1,705
427	Hillsboro	OR	280×	Rent Favored	$500K	$1,785
428	Honolulu	HI	280×	Rent Favored	$525K	$1,875
429	Seattle	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$865K	$2,800
430	Spokane	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$380K	$1,290
431	Bellevue	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$1430K	$4,853
432	Vancouver	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$495K	$1,680
433	South Hill	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$634K	$2,152
434	Kennewick	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$408K	$1,383
435	Kirkland	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$1324K	$4,493
436	Tacoma	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$484K	$1,642
437	Kent	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$660K	$2,240
438	Auburn	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$600K	$2,036
439	Everett	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$650K	$2,206
440	Marysville	WA	295×	Rent Favored	$640K	$2,172
441	Los Angeles	CA	322×	Rent Favored	$1030K	$3,200
442	Escondido	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$821K	$2,379
443	Lancaster	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$470K	$1,362
444	Concord	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$722K	$2,092
445	Menifee	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$565K	$1,637
446	Rancho Cucamonga	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$785K	$2,274
447	Moreno Valley	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$555K	$1,608
448	Long Beach	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$861K	$2,495
449	Ontario	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$665K	$1,927
450	Redding	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$385K	$1,115
451	Pasadena	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1295K	$3,752
452	Bakersfield	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$415K	$1,202
453	Carlsbad	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1423K	$4,121
454	Roseville	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$643K	$1,862
455	Vallejo	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$505K	$1,463
456	Vacaville	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$601K	$1,740
457	Santa Clarita	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$778K	$2,253
458	Santa Ana	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$800K	$2,318
459	Clovis	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$515K	$1,492
460	Irvine	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1525K	$4,418
461	Hayward	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$850K	$2,463
462	Huntington Beach	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1378K	$3,992
463	Fresno	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$389K	$1,127
464	Lincoln	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$604K	$1,749
465	La Quinta	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$900K	$2,608
466	Fullerton	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1058K	$3,064
467	Santa Rosa	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$700K	$2,028
468	Chula Vista	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$750K	$2,173
469	Merced	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$417K	$1,210
470	Victorville	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$411K	$1,191
471	San Mateo	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1340K	$3,882
472	Palmdale	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$506K	$1,466
473	Oceanside	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$875K	$2,535
474	San Bernardino	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$525K	$1,521
475	Corona	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$765K	$2,216
476	Stockton	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$430K	$1,246
477	Walnut Creek	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1002K	$2,904
478	Fontana	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$620K	$1,796
479	Riverside	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$655K	$1,898
480	Thousand Oaks	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1110K	$3,216
481	San Jose	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1447K	$4,192
482	Fremont	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1495K	$4,331
483	Sacramento	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$495K	$1,434
484	Mission Viejo	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$1150K	$3,332
485	Modesto	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$450K	$1,304
486	Lake Elsinore	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$585K	$1,695
487	Hesperia	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$484K	$1,402
488	Newport Beach	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$3735K	$10,821
489	Palm Desert	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$533K	$1,543
490	Visalia	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$400K	$1,159
491	San Diego	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$912K	$2,642
492	Apple Valley	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$420K	$1,217
493	Temecula	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$718K	$2,079
494	Palm Springs	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$698K	$2,021
495	Oakland	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$775K	$2,245
496	Anaheim	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$958K	$2,776
497	Indio	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$530K	$1,536
498	Simi Valley	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$835K	$2,419
499	Elk Grove	CA	345×	Rent Favored	$623K	$1,805
500	San Francisco	CA	368×	Rent Favored	$1500K	$3,800

How to Use the Price-to-Rent Ratio

The price-to-rent ratio (PTR) is one of the most reliable quick-filters for the rent vs buy decision. It is calculated by dividing the median home purchase price by the annual rent for a comparable property. A PTR of 20, for example, means you would pay 20 years' worth of rent to own the home outright — before accounting for mortgage interest, property taxes, maintenance, or investment opportunity costs.

Economists and housing researchers generally use three zones: below 15 signals that buying is financially advantageous in most scenarios; 15 to 20 is a gray zone where personal factors (job stability, down payment size, expected tenure) dominate; andabove 20 suggests that renting and investing the difference often produces better long-term returns.

The PTR alone does not tell the whole story. Cities with high appreciation rates — think Austin in the 2010s or Miami in the early 2020s — can justify higher ratios because equity gains compensate for the premium. Conversely, cities with flat or declining prices can look deceptively cheap on a PTR basis. Always pair the ratio with our full rent vs buy calculator to factor in your specific down payment, loan terms, and investment return assumptions.

Data in this table is sourced from real estate transaction records and rental market surveys, updated quarterly. Median sale prices reflect closed transactions; average rents reflect active listings for comparable units. All figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Want a personalized analysis for your city?

Our full calculator factors in your down payment, mortgage rate, investment returns, and local property taxes — giving you a break-even year, not just a ratio.