If you’re sick of renting in New York City — and don’t mind 100-plus-degree days — look no further than Arizona.
The southwestern desert state dominated WalletHub’s annual list of the best, and worst, places to rent in America — with Arizona metros occupying four of the top 10 slots.
But while sweltering locales like Scottsdale and Peoria offer excellent quality-of-life perks and inexpensive housing options, renters still find that the Big Apple still has a shine all its own.
The annual list of the best and worst places to rent accounts for both affordability and quality of life. Monkey Business – stock.adobe.com
Arizona metros offer renters the best bang for their buck. Allison – stock.adobe.comWalletHub ranked 180 US metros based on rental attractiveness and quality-of-life metrics, from historical price changes to traffic congestion.
The result is a comprehensive list of where renters can get the most bang for their buck — vital information when 46 million American households currently rent rather than own their homes.
Overland Park, Kansas — outside of Kansas City — topped the list. The city, with a population just under 200,000, ranked number one thanks to its spaciousness and affordability. Renters in Overland Park enjoy the highest average home square footage in the country, at 2,809 square feet.
The average Overland Park resident pays just 17% of their annual income on rent, according to WalletHub, making it the eighth-best city in terms of rental affordability.
An aerial view of Overland Park, Kansas. Jacob – stock.adobe.com
Scottsdale, Arizona was the second most attractive city for renters in 2025. Josh-Lehew – stock.adobe.comArizona proved a shining star on the WalletHub ranking, however. Four Arizona metros — Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Peoria — ranked in WalletHub’s top 10, thanks to high quality-of-life metrics, good job markets and, of course, inexpensive housing.
The Big Apple often performs dismally on this class of rankings. A similar rental report published by RentCafe — in which the Southern US ranked highly as prime rental real estate — placed New York City last in housing and cost of living metrics. The city was buoyed only slightly by top-notch results in quality-of-life perks and economic benefits.
WalletHub’s 2025 report, on the other hand, saw the Big Apple place 83rd out of 180 US metros.
Renting in New York City is no easy task, but for millions of Americans, it’s worth it. Taidgh Barron/NY Post
What the city lacks in affordability, it makes up for in city satisfaction and safety. dhvstockphoto – stock.adobe.comThe 8 million-plus residents that say “New York or nowhere,” can celebrate a high score in city satisfaction (31st place) and a high rent-to-price ratio (11th). The city’s high rent-to-price ratio means that it makes more economic sense to rent than buy, but the accolade also implies that many would-be NYC buyers are financially relegated to the rental market.
While New York City notched an unfortunate 159th place in rental affordability, it still placed higher than its competitors: New Haven, Newark and Miami. The city also scored above-average in safety, at 79th place.
Whatever New York’s flaws, it can breathe a sigh of relief that it’s not Memphis, Tennessee. The southern city, known for blues and barbecue, ranked as the worst place to rent in the country. The good news? It’s quite cheap to buy a house there.
