WalletHub Measures 182 Cities, Scottsdale 3rd Best City To Rent

Aaron Auxier

12 months ago

Optima Kierland condos and apartments in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Greater Phoenix Dominates Study

Welcome back to LUXE BLOG. Talk about good news! Recently, WalletHub compared 182 American cities to identify the top cities to rent a property. Cities received a ‘Total Score’ based on two primary factors – 1) Rental Market & Affordability Rank and 2) Quality Of Life Rank (these were based on 21 metrics). Three cities in the Greater Phoenix Area came in the top 10! Those were Scottsdale (3rd), Chandler (6th), and Gilbert (8th). And while we included all the data from the top and bottom 20 cities below, we want to point how well Scottsdale scored. Not only was it 3rd overall, it scored first for quality of life! That is not only good for renters, it is great news for those looking to buy investment properties in Scottsdale. Regarding Chandler, it scored 6th and was found to have the 8th highest quality of life. Lastly, out of the top 10, Gilbert came in 8th and was ranked to have the 9th highest quality of life. Basically, not only did three Greater Phoenix cities rank in the top 10 overall category, three cities in Greater Phoenix also made the top 10 for highest quality of life. The main data can be found below.

Scottsdale’s Optima Kierland Offers Both Condos For Sale And Apartments For Rent

Top 20 Rankings (Out Of 182 Cities)

You can read the original rental market data by WalletHub here.

1. Bismarck, ND
- Total Score: 64.51
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 1
- Quality of Life Rank: 96
2. Overland Park, KS
- Total Score: 61.35
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 7
- Quality of Life Rank: 32
3. Scottsdale, AZ
- Total Score: 60.25
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 80
- Quality of Life Rank: 1
4. Sioux Falls, SD
- Total Score: 60.16
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 2
- Quality of Life Rank: 122
5. Lewiston, ME
- Total Score: 59.26
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 10
- Quality of Life Rank: 28
6. Chandler, AZ
- Total Score: 58.75
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 58
- Quality of Life Rank: 8
7. Fargo, ND
- Total Score: 58.22
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 4
- Quality of Life Rank: 142
8. Gilbert, AZ
- Total Score: 57.70
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 44
- Quality of Life Rank: 9
9. Huntsville, AL
- Total Score: 57.20
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 23
- Quality of Life Rank: 21
10. Lincoln, NE
- Total Score: 57.15
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 8
- Quality of Life Rank: 51
11. Plano, TX
- Total Score: 56.30
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 90
- Quality of Life Rank: 4
12. Portland, ME
- Total Score: 56.20
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 37
- Quality of Life Rank: 19
13. Nashua, NH
- Total Score: 55.89
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 36
- Quality of Life Rank: 20
14. Charleston, SC
- Total Score: 55.56
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 25
- Quality of Life Rank: 33
15. Laredo, TX
- Total Score: 55.32
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 21
- Quality of Life Rank: 42
16. Boise, ID
- Total Score: 54.92
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 47
- Quality of Life Rank: 25
17. Rapid City, SD
- Total Score: 54.63
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 6
- Quality of Life Rank: 113
18. Cedar Rapids, IA
- Total Score: 54.52
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 4
- Quality of Life Rank: 130
19. Fremont, CA
- Total Score: 54.44
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 46
- Quality of Life Rank: 29
20. Casper, WY
- Total Score: 54.04
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 13
- Quality of Life Rank: 76

WalletHub’s Comparison Involved 182 Cities

Bottom 20 Rankings (Out Of 182 Cities)

163. Chattanooga, TN
- Total Score: 36.88
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 137
- Quality of Life Rank: 154
164. San Bernardino, CA
- Total Score: 36.51
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 167
- Quality of Life Rank: 118
165. Indianapolis, IN
- Total Score: 36.10
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 133
- Quality of Life Rank: 160
166. Baltimore, MD
- Total Score: 36.09
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 126
- Quality of Life Rank: 167
167. Oakland, CA
- Total Score: 36.05
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 89
- Quality of Life Rank: 176
168. Worcester, MA
- Total Score: 35.96
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 162
- Quality of Life Rank: 127
169. Vancouver, WA
- Total Score: 35.59
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 125
- Quality of Life Rank: 173
170. Hialeah, FL
- Total Score: 35.21
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 182
- Quality of Life Rank: 52
171. Huntington, WV
- Total Score: 35.18
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 154
- Quality of Life Rank: 149
172. Philadelphia, PA
- Total Score: 34.32
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 151
- Quality of Life Rank: 159
173. Burlington, VT
- Total Score: 34.18
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 146
- Quality of Life Rank: 166
174. Gulfport, MS
- Total Score: 32.55
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 170
- Quality of Life Rank: 158
175. New Orleans, LA
- Total Score: 32.19
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 175
- Quality of Life Rank: 150
176. Newark, NJ
- Total Score: 32.00
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 158
- Quality of Life Rank: 169
177. Baton Rouge, LA
- Total Score: 31.79
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 160
- Quality of Life Rank: 171
178. Jackson, MS
- Total Score: 30.59
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 171
- Quality of Life Rank: 172
179. Tacoma, WA
- Total Score: 30.54
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 153
- Quality of Life Rank: 174
180. Cleveland, OH
- Total Score: 30.36
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 159
- Quality of Life Rank: 177
181. Detroit, MI
- Total Score: 29.65
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 141
- Quality of Life Rank: 181
182. Memphis, TN
- Total Score: 26.22
- Rental Market & Affordability Rank: 168
- Quality of Life Rank: 182

Also Read: Important Things To Know About Living In Scottsdale, Arizona!

Maxwell On 66th Offers Luxury Apartments For Rent In Scottsdale

About WalletHub’s Comparison

WalletHub’s comparison sheds light on the factors influencing the choice to rent rather than buy a home. While renting can be more convenient and cost-effective, it often depends on individual financial situations and local market conditions. WalletHub’s study analyzed over 180 rental markets using 21 key metrics to determine the best places for renters. The data set covered aspects such as rental rates versus mortgage payments, affordability, cost of living, and job availability.

45 million households rent in the US
Factors influencing renting vs. buying:
- Financial means
- Local real-estate market conditions
Regional variations in rental rates
21 key measures of rental attractiveness and quality of life used
Metrics included:
- Difference between rental rates and mortgage payments
- Rental affordability
- Cost of living
- Job availability
In the best cities:
- Rent can be as low as 15% of income
- Robust laws protect renters
- Quality-of-life factors such as traffic, job market, and recreation considered

Greater Phoenix Has Three Cities In The Top 10

About Scottsdale’s High Score

Scottsdale, AZ, is the third-best place to rent, largely due to the high quality of life in the city. Key highlights about Scottsdale from the study include:

Top Quality of Life: Ranked best for job availability and driving environment (traffic and infrastructure quality).
Excellent Weather and Recreation: Fourth-best weather and sixth-best recreation options.
Rental Affordability: 42nd-best out of 182 cities, with most people spending around 20% of their annual income on rent.
Large Home Sizes: Average home square footage is 2,433 square feet.
Protective State Laws: Arizona has state-level laws addressing bedbug infestations in rental properties.

Scottsdale isn’t the cheapest city to rent in, but it offers a balanced mix of affordability and quality of life. All of these factors make it an attractive place for renters.

Also Read: What Area Of Scottsdale Should I Move To?