Rents and Rising Mobility How Affordability Is Shaping Renter Decisions in 2025
The rental market continued cooling in October, giving renters more relief and signaling a steady reset from the sharp price spikes seen during and after the pandemic. Realtor.com’s latest report shows the national median rent fell 1.7% year-over-year to $1,696, marking the 27th straight month of annual declines and the third consecutive monthly drop. While rents remain $245 higher than in 2019, the trend points to a market slowly normalizing.
What’s changing even more than prices is where renters are searching. As affordability varies widely across regions, more renters are looking beyond their home metro. Realtor.com found that 20 of the 50 largest U.S. metros now attract more out-of-market renters than before the pandemic, driven by rising costs, lifestyle flexibility, and the continued influence of remote and hybrid work.
Some of the biggest shifts toward out-of-town interest over the past six years happened in Detroit, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Charlotte. These metros, even if not cheap overall, offer relative affordability compared to nearby high-cost cities. For example, New Yorkers now make up more than 25% of rental searches in Philadelphia, while San Jose renters increasingly look toward San Francisco.
But not all markets are seeing this outward pull. Cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami continue to hold strong local loyalty, with the majority of renter searches coming from residents who already live there. High home prices and rent protections in these metros make staying put more appealing than relocating.
Meanwhile, metros drawing the most out-of-market interest—Raleigh, Hartford, Richmond, Providence, and Nashville—are gaining momentum thanks to stronger affordability, growing job opportunities, and lifestyle appeal. These cities have become magnets for young professionals and remote workers seeking better value.
Across all unit types, rents declined again in October: studios dropped 2.1%, one-bedrooms 1.9%, and two-bedrooms 1.7% year-over-year. Even though prices have eased, two-bedroom rents remain nearly 19% higher than before the pandemic.
Ultimately, affordability remains the defining force in today’s rental market. As prices cool nationally but stay elevated in many regions, more renters are broadening their search, prioritizing financial balance, more space, and greater flexibility in how — and where — they live.
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