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What is the Average Rent in the U.S.?

5 min read

Last Updated: January 17, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

The United States median gross rent was $1,406 in 2023, according to the United States Census Bureau. However, costs vary by state and city.
Landlords often run a credit check on apartment applicants to determine their financial responsibility.
You may be able to improve your credit score by having rent payments reported to the credit bureaus or using your credit card to pay rent.

Our homes are the centers of our lives and, often, our budgets. What you pay is so important that housing costs are used as markers of the country’s financial well-being. According to the most recent United States Census data, almost 35% of households in the country rent apartment units or houses. It stands to reason then, the average rent cost where you live could impact your other financial decisions, from applying for credit cards to choosing a career.

Average apartment rent in the United States

The United States Census Bureau found that in 2023, the median gross rent was $1,406 across American households. A median means half of all the rent amounts the Census collected were less than $1,406, and half were more.

Rent costs vary across different types of units, from one-bedroom apartments to single-family homes. Outliers, like expensive luxury apartments and affordable housing complexes, may skew average rent numbers. To adjust, the Census measures median gross rent instead because extremes have a minimal impact on medians.

Some renters also need to pay for water, gas, electricity, and/or sewage expenses on top of their monthly rent. Gross rent includes monthly utility costs if renters are responsible for covering them.

Census data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that many renters needed to stretch their budgets to cover rent increases over the last few years. There’s even a name for this: cost burdened. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers a person cost burdened if rent takes up over 30% of their income.

In 2023, the Census Bureau reports that the percentage of renters considered cost burdened was just over 49%, representing over 21 million renter households.

Average monthly rent across the United States

It’s no secret that rents vary significantly across states, cities, and even neighborhoods. Renting in a metro area typically comes at a high cost due to the high demand for housing. A renter in a more rural, less densely populated area usually pays less per month. The United States Census offers a map of median gross rents across the country, which offers detailed insight into regional rent differences. Some highlights include the following (amounts were sourced January 9, 2024):

New York State: $1,507
- New York City: $1,714
- Syracuse: $932
New Jersey: $1,577
- Jersey City: $1,799
California: $1,856
- Los Angeles: $1,791
- San Francisco: $2,316
- San Jose: $2,526
Washington, DC: $1,817
West Virginia: $831
North Dakota: $912
South Dakota: $878
Arkansas: $868
Florida: $1,444
North Carolina: $1,093
South Carolina: $1,065
Texas: $1,251
- Austin: $1,549
- Cottle County: $375

Apartment rent and your credit

Renting may help you build your credit history. The three credit bureaus incorporate rental information into credit reports when they receive it. However, most landlords don’t automatically report rent payments to credit reporting agencies.

If you’d like to use your rental cost to improve your score, you have a few options. You may ask your landlord to start reporting your payments to credit reporting agencies or sign up for a rent reporting service.

Many apartment applications include a credit check. Your credit history gives landlords an idea of your ability to manage money and pay bills on time. If your credit report shows a spotty payment history or a lot of credit card debt, you may have fewer rental options than you would with a high credit score.

Did you know?

If your credit score has taken a hit, you may need to improve it before you go to rent your next place. If you have a credit card and use it responsibly—by paying your bills on time and not using too much of your available credit at once—it may help improve your credit score.

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Can you pay rent with a credit card?

Some landlords and property managers accept rent payments via credit card. However, others may not have the tools to process credit card payments. Paying rent with a credit card may cost you a little more, as you could be responsible for covering processing fees. Paying rent with a credit card each month could help you build your credit history when used responsibly and help you earn credit card rewards.

Using a credit card to pay rent may not always be the best choice. For most people, rent is a major expense. If rent takes up a large portion of your available credit each month, you could hurt your score by increasing your credit utilization ratio. Using a credit card to cover rent when you can’t afford it could quickly lead to unmanageable debt. Before you begin paying rent with a credit card, it’s essential to establish a plan.

Rent plays a central role in many Americans’ financial lives. While the median rent across the country was $1,406 in 2023, your costs depend on your location, apartment size, and other unique circumstances. Responsible credit and rental habits often go together, so it’s important to maintain a healthy credit score.

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