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There have been significant shifts in rental demand in various cities over the last six years, mostly due to the impact of remote work and rising costs. The five metros experiencing the most drastic changes in renter makeup are Detroit; Philadelphia; Sacramento, CA; San Francisco; and Charlotte, NC, according to the October 2025 rent report from Realtor.com®. These cities are attracting renters seeking more affordable housing options compared to neighboring major cities.
Key Takeaways
- The rental market in San Francisco has benefited from its proximity to the expensive San Jose, CA.
- Detroit saw the most significant changes in rental demand, with a notable increase in out-of-town traffic.
- Philadelphia and Sacramento experienced substantial declines in local rental demand but attracted residents from costlier metros like New York and Los Angeles.
- Rents have been declining for 27 consecutive months, with the smallest dwellings seeing the largest drop.
- New York City had the highest share of local rental demand, reflecting strong rent-stabilization protections and high home prices that discourage homeownership.
This summary has been generated with AI tools and edited by Realtor.com News & Insights editors. The full story, written and edited by Realtor.com News & Insights newsroom journalists, is linked at the top of the summary.