What is the Average Rent in America?

5 min read

Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

The United States median gross rent was $1,487 in 2024, according to the United States Census Bureau.
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 may 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 there was a rent increase in 2024. The median gross rent went from $1,448 in 2023 (adjusted for inflation) to $1,487 across American households in 2024. A median means half of all the rent amounts the Census collected were less than $1,487, 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 the rental market. 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 rental prices include 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.

Average rent prices 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 (via the American Community Survey one-year estimates, based on data collected from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024):

Highest median monthly rent:
- California ($2,104)
- Hawaii ($1,942)
- Massachusetts ($1,848)
Lowest median monthly rent:
- West Virginia ($883)
- North Dakota ($980)
- Iowa ($981)
Other highlights:
- Washington, D.C. ($1,931)
- New York ($1,634)
- Texas ($1,475)

Get the full state-by-state breakdown here:

Apartment rent and your credit

The three credit bureaus incorporate rental information into credit reports when they receive it, so renting may help build your credit. 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. Always pay your bills on time and don’t use too much of your available credit at once to help improve your credit score.

See if You’re Pre-Approved

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 may be responsible for covering processing fees. Paying rent with a credit card each month may 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 may hurt your score by increasing your credit utilization ratio. Using a credit card to cover rent when you can’t afford it may lead to unmanageable debt. Before you begin paying rent with a credit card, it’s essential to establish a plan.

The bottom line

The real estate market as a whole is competitive, and prices are rising to keep up. Rent prices play a central role in many Americans’ financial lives. While the median rent across the country was $1,487 in 2024, 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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