Where in the country were the top five cities for rental activity in April? As the rental season picks up and apartment hunters remain actively engaged in their search for suitable living spaces, RentCafe reports on exactly that question.
While the month’s data shows the South and West as still very popular with renters, the top spots in April go to the Midwest, RentCafe says, based on what the company sees on their platform.
“The Midwest is reclaiming its hold on the top five, with Overland Park, Kan., in the lead, followed by Minneapolis in second place and Cleveland securing the fourth spot.
“However, this resurgence of the Midwest does nothing to push out the South’s presence in the ranking, with Atlanta holding steady in third place and Washington, D.C. coming in fifth
Top 5 cities for rental activity in April
- Overland Park, Kan.
Securing the top position after a steady climb since the beginning of the year, Overland Park, Kan., is propelled by a 256% surge in page views and a 138% increase in favorited listings compared to the previous year. Notably, this surge in rental activity coincides with a strong 67% increase year-over-year in saved searches on RentCafe.com. Even with a 3% increase in available apartment listings, it’s evident that the demand for rental properties in this Kansas City suburb continues to be high.
- Minneapolis
Although Minneapolis has slipped to second place since last month, it continues to be a frontrunner for April. Here, renters’ interest in the City of Lakes was solidified by a 133% increase in page views and a 47% increase in saved searches compared to April 2023. Moreover, despite a 23% decrease in favorited listings, the city’s allure remains strong, as evidenced by a 19% year-over-year drop in available apartment listings on RentCafe.com, which indicates high demand and a competitive rental market.
- Atlanta
Atlanta retained its third spot in April, repeating its placement from the previous month. That said, the city has seen a slight 1% increase in the number of listings availability, but the interest among renters — particularly those hailing from New York, Miami and Chicago — remains robust. April also marks Atlanta’s seventh appearance in the top three most sought-after cities, highlighting this Southern gem’s enduring charm.
- Cleveland
Cleveland has made a significant leap to the fourth spot in April, climbing nine positions since last month. Clearly, apartments in Cleveland are captivating renters’ attention, as demonstrated by a 118% surge in page views and a 26% drop in available listings. Plus, despite experiencing a 10% decrease in saved searches and only an 8% rise in favorited listings, it’s clear that this Ohio haven still maintains its status as a sought-after market in rental activity.
- Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. claims the fifth spot in April rankings, due to a 35% increase in page views and a 9% decrease in apartment availability compared to the previous year. This highlight sustained interest from renters in spite of a slight drop in favorited listings (down 16%) and a 36% decrease in saved searches, which could be attributed to lack of immediate intent to rent given that the rental season has just started. Nevertheless, the capital continues to attract attention, particularly from renters hailing from Baltimore, New York and Atlanta.
Read the full report from RentCafe here.
