Austin named 4th best U.S. city for renters in 2025

A summer RentCafe report has found Austin's ideal market for renters has eclipsed most other American cities, earning it a top-five spot among the best U.S. cities for renters in 2025. It's northern neighbor Round Rock also made it into the top 10.RentCafe's "Best Cities for Renters to Live in 2025" report annually compares 150 U.S. cities based on 20 factors examining their quality of life, local economy, and cost of living and housing opportunities. The report notes that cities were chosen if they had an "apartment stock" consisting of a minimum 10,000 units, and any cities with lower apartment stocks were excluded.Austin ranked 4th overall on the list, three spots higher than its 2024 ranking, while Round Rock sank from No. 6 to No. 8 this year. The Dallas suburb McKinney claimed the title as the No. 1 best city for renters after dethroning Charleston, South Carolina, which had held the top spot for the last two years and has since slumped into the No. 7 spot for 2025.Rounding out the top five best U.S. cities for renters this year are Sarasota, Florida (No. 2), Atlanta, Georgia (No. 3), and Huntsville, Alabama (No. 5).Austin received high praise for its affordability and quality of life, and the report found that the city's cost of living is 2.7 percent lower than the national average. Austin's nationally recognized low cost of living earned it a top-five spot in a separate Motley Fool Money report of the most affordable U.S. cities earlier in 2025.RentCafe adds that Austin's local economy, job growth, and excellent school systems all make it "a magnet for renters seeking opportunity and affordability.""As an established science and tech hub, Austin is home to major employers like Dell Technologies; NXP Semiconductors; Keller Williams Realty; and social media giants, like Facebook," the report said. "Beyond its thriving job market, renters can enjoy access to top-tier educational institutions and the city’s natural beauty — from Lady Bird Lake to Barton Creek Greenbelt and countless parks that add to Austin’s outdoor charm."The average size of an Austin apartment spans 866 square feet, a figure that lags behind most other Texas cities included in the report. San Marcos, a city between Austin and San Antonio, far outranks Austin in that category with an average apartment size of 988 square feet.Other top Austin-area cities for rentersAfter holding on as the 6th best city for renters for the last two years, Round Rock seems to be watching its charm wane. This North Austin suburb now ranks No. 8 in 2025. However, Round Rock still maintains a few benefits over Austin. Its low cost of living – nearly eight percent lower than the national average – plus its safety and its spacious average apartment size (915 square feet) still make it one of the most desirable places to live."The South firmly establishes itself as the top region for renters in 2025, by claiming an impressive 41 of the 50 featured cities," the report said. "From major rental markets like Atlanta and Austin, TX, to rising stars such as McKinney, TX, and Round Rock, TX, the South’s strong presence in the top 10 highlights its increasing appeal to renters across the board."San Marcos made a spectacular jump in this year's rankings, landing as No. 27 after previously ranking 55th last year. Elsewhere in TexasOverall, it appears most Texas cities made slight improvements in the rankings since last year. After flopping out of the top five in 2024, the Dallas suburb of Plano moved up six spots and is now the 11th best U.S. city for renters in 2025. The city is suffering from a high cost of living that's nearly 10 percent higher than the national average, leaving a lot of room for improvement to regain a top spot among the best places for renters to live.Here's how other Texas cities stacked up among the top 100 in RentCafe's report:No. 24 – Conroe (up from No. 31 last year)No. 33 – Denton (up from No. 38 last year)No. 38 – Fort Worth (up from No. 53 last year)No. 44 – San Antonio (up from No. 65 last year)No. 57 – Dallas (unchanged from 2024)No. 58 – Lubbock (unchanged from 2024)No. 63 – Midland (down from No. 52 last year)No. 69 – Amarillo (up from No. 85 last year)No. 70 – Houston (up from No. 71 last year)No. 88 – Waco (up from No. 91 last year)