Ranked list · Price to income
Cheapest rental markets relative to local income
Every market where the typical home costs three times local median household income or less, ranked cheapest first. Three times income is the long-standing conventional line for housing a local wage can carry, and it measures price against what people there actually earn, which is what makes a low price sustainable rather than merely low.
What this ranking is
494 of 4,812 scored markets meet the entry rule for this list (a typical home value no more than 3.0x local median household income, and a Confidence score of 70 or better). Across the 100 shown, the median Overall score is 46.3 out of 100 and 6 carry an A grade, so a strong showing on price to income is not the same thing as a strong market.
Read it with the trade-off. Cheap relative to income often means cheap for a reason: 11 of the top 12 are losing population. Affordability is a screen for where a deal can pencil, not evidence that it will.
Every market below links to its own page, where the same numbers are shown with their source, their as-of date, and the exact arithmetic behind the score. A ranking is a screen for where to look; it is not underwriting and not a recommendation.
Cheapest rental markets relative to local income, ranked
Showing the top 100 of 494 markets that qualify. Click any column to re-sort. The full 4,812-market ranking, with every filter, is in the market explorer.
| # | Market | Price to income | Grade | Overall | Confidence | Typical home value | Gross yield | Population trend | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East St. Louis IL | 1.0x | C | 49.2 | 82 | $36,286 | 19.3% ACS | -2.4% | #2083 |
| 2 | Helena-West Helena AR | 1.1x | D | 41.1 | 73 | $40,630 | 12.6% ACS | -2.9% | #3283 |
| 3 | Blackwell OK | 1.2x | B | 51.3 | 73 | $62,411 | 11.3% ACS | -0.7% | #1777 |
| 4 | Mount Carmel PA | 1.2x | B | 53.8 | 82 | $63,242 | 10.9% ACS | -0.4% | #1416 |
| 5 | Clarksdale MS | 1.3x | F | 20.3 | 73 | $47,123 | 11.1% ACS | -1.8% | #4673 |
| 6 | Duquesne PA | 1.3x | B | 57.6 | 82 | $57,985 | 13.9% ACS | -0.9% | #956 |
| 7 | Greenville MS | 1.3x | D | 42.7 | 79 | $53,407 | 10.1% ACS | -2.0% | #3035 |
| 8 | Hoopeston IL | 1.4x | D | 43.4 | 82 | $84,196 | 13.6% ACS | -1.0% | #2949 |
| 9 | Robinson IL | 1.4x | B | 53.1 | 76 | $103,790 | 10.0% ACS | +0.0% | #1490 |
| 10 | Chester IL | 1.4x | B | 52.5 | 70 | $114,241 | 8.2% ACS | -1.1% | #1569 |
| 11 | Coffeyville KS | 1.5x | F | 33.3 | 73 | $67,577 | 15.1% | -1.1% | #4088 |
| 12 | Midfield AL | 1.5x | B | 55.5 | 82 | $79,726 | 15.4% | -0.8% | #1184 |
| 13 | Shamokin PA | 1.5x | B | 52.0 | 76 | $60,400 ACS | 16.4% ACS | -0.5% | #1647 |
| 14 | Bradford PA | 1.5x | B | 50.3 | 70 | $85,600 ACS | 11.2% ACS | -1.2% | #1903 |
| 15 | West York PA | 1.5x | A | 71.6 | 76 | $123,600 ACS | 9.4% ACS | +0.6% | #104 |
| 16 | Parsons KS | 1.6x | F | 35.0 | 73 | $81,462 | 13.0% ACS | -0.6% | #3946 |
| 17 | Prichard AL | 1.6x | B | 55.4 | 82 | $57,317 | 12.9% ACS | -1.1% | #1206 |
| 18 | Sauk Village IL | 1.6x | A | 64.5 | 70 | $110,800 ACS | 16.3% ACS | -0.7% | #374 |
| 19 | Keokuk IA | 1.6x | F | 31.0 | 73 | $84,736 | 10.0% ACS | -0.9% | #4253 |
| 20 | Monessen PA | 1.6x | D | 42.6 | 82 | $86,608 | 9.2% ACS | -0.9% | #3055 |
| 21 | Kewanee IL | 1.7x | C | 50.1 | 82 | $85,306 | 13.1% ACS | -0.5% | #1950 |
| 22 | Olean NY | 1.7x | C | 46.6 | 76 | $86,100 ACS | 11.1% ACS | -0.4% | #2487 |
| 23 | Sharon PA | 1.7x | B | 52.3 | 82 | $77,222 | 14.1% | -0.7% | #1612 |
| 24 | Pine Bluff AR | 1.7x | F | 28.7 | 94 | $73,251 | 17.3% | -1.5% | #4378 |
| 25 | Flint MI | 1.7x | C | 46.3 | 100 | $65,250 | 17.5% | -1.3% | #2536 |
| 26 | Littlefield TX | 1.8x | B | 57.0 | 70 | $106,813 | 16.0% ACS | -0.7% | #1025 |
| 27 | Monmouth IL | 1.8x | B | 50.5 | 76 | $108,305 | 10.1% ACS | -0.7% | #1884 |
| 28 | Malone NY | 1.8x | C | 46.0 | 76 | $107,600 ACS | 9.4% ACS | -0.7% | #2573 |
| 29 | Oil City PA | 1.8x | C | 45.1 | 82 | $91,387 | 13.3% ACS | -0.7% | #2697 |
| 30 | Borger TX | 1.8x | D | 37.0 | 73 | $109,658 | 10.6% ACS | -1.0% | #3763 |
| 31 | Tarrant AL | 1.8x | B | 56.8 | 82 | $75,349 | 17.4% | -1.0% | #1043 |
| 32 | Jennings MO | 1.8x | C | 46.8 | 88 | $70,223 | 20.4% | -0.5% | #2466 |
| 33 | Kermit TX | 1.8x | A | 66.7 | 76 | $146,982 | 8.5% ACS | -0.7% | #281 |
| 34 | Danville IL | 1.8x | F | 31.2 | 100 | $83,490 | 12.5% | -1.0% | #4236 |
| 35 | Du Quoin IL | 1.8x | B | 50.4 | 76 | $100,094 | 10.4% ACS | -0.6% | #1897 |
| 36 | Canton IL | 1.9x | D | 39.4 | 82 | $99,329 | 8.6% ACS | -0.4% | #3495 |
| 37 | Pinckneyville IL | 1.9x | F | 33.2 | 76 | $129,937 | 3.7% ACS | -0.9% | #4092 |
| 38 | Perryton TX | 1.9x | D | 39.8 | 76 | $129,885 | 9.5% ACS | -1.5% | #3451 |
| 39 | Herrin IL | 1.9x | B | 52.8 | 82 | $113,088 | 10.6% ACS | -0.3% | #1534 |
| 40 | Ogdensburg NY | 1.9x | C | 49.8 | 76 | $116,974 | 10.9% ACS | -1.6% | #1991 |
| 41 | Pampa TX | 1.9x | F | 34.0 | 82 | $108,529 | 11.1% ACS | -0.8% | #4029 |
| 42 | Alton IL | 1.9x | D | 39.4 | 94 | $104,934 | 11.7% | -0.6% | #3502 |
| 43 | Detroit MI | 1.9x | C | 45.9 | 100 | $77,199 | 20.8% | -0.1% | #2585 |
| 44 | Mount Zion IL | 1.9x | F | 32.9 | 82 | $199,922 | 4.4% ACS | -0.2% | #4116 |
| 45 | Salamanca NY | 1.9x | B | 51.9 | 76 | $80,900 ACS | 10.2% ACS | -0.2% | #1671 |
| 46 | Fairfield AL | 1.9x | C | 48.0 | 82 | $94,108 | 14.9% | -1.2% | #2261 |
| 47 | LaSalle IL | 2.0x | C | 48.2 | 76 | $113,500 ACS | 11.0% ACS | -0.1% | #2234 |
| 48 | Altus OK | 2.0x | A | 63.9 | 73 | $108,969 | 11.2% | -0.1% | #415 |
| 49 | Albion NY | 2.0x | B | 54.2 | 70 | $82,300 ACS | 12.8% ACS | +0.2% | #1371 |
| 50 | Granite City IL | 2.0x | D | 42.6 | 94 | $117,208 | 10.2% | -0.6% | #3041 |
| 51 | Clinton OK | 2.0x | C | 49.9 | 73 | $116,745 | 8.9% ACS | -0.9% | #1990 |
| 52 | Primera TX | 2.0x | B | 64.9 | 70 | $160,900 ACS | 9.6% ACS | +1.1% | #352 |
| 53 | Decatur GA | 2.0x | A | 62.7 | 100 | $279,906 | 7.5% | +0.9% | #494 |
| 54 | Chester PA | 2.0x | B | 58.0 | 94 | $83,100 ACS | 15.8% ACS | +0.4% | #903 |
| 55 | Jerseyville IL | 2.0x | C | 49.6 | 82 | $148,283 | 7.2% ACS | +0.1% | #2022 |
| 56 | Arkansas City KS | 2.0x | C | 43.9 | 73 | $100,300 | 10.6% | -0.3% | #2872 |
| 57 | Ecorse MI | 2.0x | D | 42.8 | 82 | $81,721 | 15.4% ACS | -0.7% | #3018 |
| 58 | Fort Stockton TX | 2.1x | D | 39.9 | 70 | $173,910 | 5.9% ACS | -0.8% | #3442 |
| 59 | Jackson MS | 2.1x | F | 33.9 | 100 | $86,367 | 17.6% | -1.7% | #4038 |
| 60 | Ottumwa IA | 2.1x | C | 45.7 | 94 | $125,640 | 10.4% ACS | +0.0% | #2607 |
| 61 | Turtle Creek PA | 2.1x | B | 54.1 | 82 | $94,621 | 14.3% | -0.9% | #1372 |
| 62 | East Alton IL | 2.1x | C | 46.7 | 82 | $100,421 | 10.8% | -0.7% | #2478 |
| 63 | River Rouge MI | 2.1x | D | 41.7 | 82 | $84,710 | 15.5% ACS | -1.0% | #3194 |
| 64 | Wellston OH | 2.1x | C | 48.7 | 76 | $116,419 | 5.2% ACS | +0.1% | #2152 |
| 65 | West Frankfort IL | 2.1x | B | 54.3 | 76 | $99,469 | 9.8% ACS | -0.8% | #1350 |
| 66 | Decatur IL | 2.1x | F | 29.4 | 100 | $107,246 | 11.9% | -0.9% | #4333 |
| 67 | Vernon TX | 2.1x | B | 51.7 | 82 | $106,430 | 13.0% ACS | -0.7% | #1695 |
| 68 | Peoria Heights IL | 2.1x | B | 57.5 | 82 | $125,205 | 9.3% ACS | -0.4% | #963 |
| 69 | Bellefontaine Neighbors MO | 2.1x | C | 44.5 | 88 | $102,479 | 16.8% | -0.5% | #2782 |
| 70 | Paris IL | 2.1x | C | 44.9 | 70 | $112,922 | 12.3% ACS | -0.5% | #2728 |
| 71 | Blytheville AR | 2.1x | A | 59.0 | 73 | $101,348 | 8.6% ACS | -1.8% | #805 |
| 72 | Dunbar WV | 2.1x | C | 47.0 | 73 | $123,709 | 9.4% ACS | -0.9% | #2417 |
| 73 | West Mifflin PA | 2.1x | B | 56.9 | 82 | $163,033 | 11.2% | -0.8% | #1037 |
| 74 | Muleshoe TX | 2.1x | C | 47.1 | 70 | $147,697 | 11.4% ACS | +0.1% | #2402 |
| 75 | Youngstown OH | 2.1x | D | 40.3 | 100 | $73,589 | 17.3% | -0.7% | #3380 |
| 76 | Berkeley MO | 2.1x | B | 50.3 | 82 | $94,717 | 16.4% | -0.8% | #1916 |
| 77 | Vandergrift PA | 2.2x | C | 48.6 | 82 | $109,543 | 10.1% ACS | -0.4% | #2169 |
| 78 | Wood River IL | 2.2x | B | 59.1 | 82 | $135,087 | 10.0% | -0.2% | #801 |
| 79 | Bath NY | 2.2x | F | 33.7 | 70 | $101,700 ACS | 8.7% ACS | -0.2% | #4051 |
| 80 | Harrisburg IL | 2.2x | B | 50.5 | 76 | $93,781 | 10.8% ACS | -1.0% | #1887 |
| 81 | Rock Island IL | 2.2x | F | 32.3 | 100 | $127,832 | 8.9% | -0.5% | #4164 |
| 82 | Big Spring TX | 2.2x | F | 30.5 | 88 | $146,602 | 10.1% | -2.9% | #4274 |
| 83 | Spring Valley IL | 2.2x | C | 48.1 | 82 | $153,385 | 7.2% ACS | -0.2% | #2248 |
| 84 | Fort Dodge IA | 2.2x | C | 45.6 | 94 | $132,254 | 7.6% | +0.0% | #2633 |
| 85 | Burlington IA | 2.2x | D | 42.4 | 94 | $128,671 | 9.3% | -0.7% | #3078 |
| 86 | Jacksonville IL | 2.2x | D | 41.5 | 82 | $142,951 | 6.7% ACS | -0.6% | #3219 |
| 87 | Forrest City AR | 2.2x | F | 22.2 | 73 | $78,031 | 10.5% ACS | -1.4% | #4635 |
| 88 | Kennett MO | 2.2x | D | 42.9 | 82 | $115,000 | 7.0% ACS | -0.6% | #3006 |
| 89 | Enid OK | 2.2x | D | 41.3 | 100 | $136,865 | 10.1% | -0.3% | #3244 |
| 90 | Lamesa TX | 2.2x | D | 38.0 | 82 | $108,207 | 10.3% ACS | -1.4% | #3666 |
| 91 | Hamburg NY | 2.2x | C | 45.9 | 76 | $248,600 ACS | 5.3% ACS | +0.2% | #2591 |
| 92 | St. Marys PA | 2.2x | D | 41.2 | 76 | $149,000 ACS | 6.1% ACS | -0.5% | #3269 |
| 93 | Moline IL | 2.2x | D | 39.5 | 100 | $150,444 | 8.5% | -0.1% | #3491 |
| 94 | Olney IL | 2.2x | B | 58.9 | 76 | $133,449 | 9.7% ACS | -0.7% | #816 |
| 95 | Forest Hills PA | 2.2x | D | 37.1 | 76 | $200,700 ACS | 6.4% ACS | -0.8% | #3751 |
| 96 | Streator IL | 2.2x | B | 53.5 | 82 | $129,169 | 10.8% ACS | -0.7% | #1453 |
| 97 | Galesburg IL | 2.2x | D | 38.5 | 94 | $108,393 | 10.0% ACS | -0.9% | #3613 |
| 98 | Fort Madison IA | 2.3x | F | 26.4 | 73 | $114,173 | 6.7% | -0.7% | #4501 |
| 99 | Clinton IA | 2.3x | D | 37.2 | 94 | $135,834 | 6.8% | -0.5% | #3749 |
| 100 | Caruthersville MO | 2.3x | F | 26.9 | 70 | $78,312 | 8.9% ACS | -1.2% | #4467 |
Figures marked ACS come from the Census American Community Survey (5-year), because Zillow publishes no index for that market: an ACS home value is the owner-reported median, and an ACS yield is the median gross rent over that median. 68 of the 100 markets shown carry one. Each city page names the source of every figure.
Take one of these markets further
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