- Overland Park, KS, reclaimed the top spot in RentCafe’s rankings, dethroning Minneapolis as the most popular renter city in July.
- The U.S. West emerged as the most sought-after area, with 11 cities in the top 30, largely driven by demand from California.
- Detroit made a significant leap into the top 10, showing strong renter interest alongside other major cities like Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.
As peak moving season heats up, renters are heating up their online apartment searches. This July, Overland Park, KS, returned to the top spot on RentCafe.com, knocking Minneapolis off the throne.
This marks the second time in 2024 since April that Overland Park has topped the RentCafe list. Meanwhile, runner-up Minneapolis remains a strong contender, having consistently attracted high interest from renters throughout the year.
Top Renter Cities
Overland Park’s popularity surged 50% YoY in July in terms of page views for rental listings. The city also saw a 30% spike in saved searches and twice the number of apartments favorited compared to last year.
The rising demand for rentals in Overland Park led to an 11% drop in available listings, as renters from nearby Kansas City, MO, and Chicago flooded the market.
Although it was bumped down to second place, Minneapolis also continued to attract renters, with 50% more favorited properties and 21% more views on listings than a year ago. However, a 20% drop in available rentals suggests supply is tightening.
Detroit also leaped straight into third place, climbing 12 spots from June. Motor City saw double the number of page views and 21% more saved searches. This surge in demand contributed to 35% fewer available listings YoY, as Detroit’s revitalization efforts continue to attract apartment hunters.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., secured fourth place, maintaining its appeal to renters drawn to the city’s blend of job opportunities and quality of life. The nation’s capital saw 21% fewer available listings, as high engagement from apartment seekers in Baltimore and NYC kept it high on the list.
Atlanta rounded out the top five, despite slipping three spots from the previous month. The Southern hub continues to be a magnet for renters, particularly those relocating from cities like Miami, Chicago, and NYC.
West Dominates Rankings
While the Midwest is well-represented in the top 10, the West stands out as the most popular region for renters this summer. The U.S. West claimed 11 cities in the top 30, with the majority located in California.
Reno, NV, ranks highest at #10, driven by 23% more favorited listings and 41% fewer available units. California cities like Ontario, Sacramento, and Bakersfield also ranked highly, with Bakersfield seeing 58% more online traffic for its listings.
The South followed closely behind with 10 cities in the top 30. D.C. leads the region, followed by Atlanta, Louisville, and Orlando. Notably, Louisville climbed 12 spots to 7th place, thanks to 32% more online traffic and a significant drop in available listings.
The Midwest continues to hold its own, with 8 cities making the top 30, including Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. Meanwhile, the Northeast lags behind, with Philadelphia as the sole city on the list. Philadelphia climbed three spots from last month thanks to 21% more page views.
Newcomers at The Top
July also saw six new entries into the top 30 cities for rental activity. The highest-ranking newcomer is Chandler, AZ, at #22, driven by 28% fewer available listings and a slight bump in favorited properties.
California cities Long Beach and Fontana also made their debuts, as both enjoyed a sharp spike in online searches, reducing available listings by up to 40%.
Columbus, OH, Tulsa, OK, and Baton Rouge, LA rounded out the list of newcomers. Tulsa made the most significant leap, climbing a staggering 39 spots to #29, thanks to 36% more saved searches.
