Atlanta Nearly Tops the List as Best City in US for Renters, Ranks Second Nationwide
Atlanta is being recognized as one of the most favorable cities for renters in America, scoring second place in an in-depth study that analyzed 150 different U.S. locations to find out which ones offer the best living conditions for tenants.
Dominating Nationwide Rankings
With its solid local economy, advantageous cost of living, and a range of rental options, Atlanta has outperformed 149 other locations from all across the country to secure the second place in the recently published “Best Cities for Renters to Live in 2024” list. The study was conducted by the nationally recognized apartment search website, RentCafe.com. Charleston, S.C., came ahead only by a small margin, securing the premier position across all 20 metrics that RentCafe used for their analysis. Following Atlanta, Sarasota landed the third place in the ranking, and overall the South has proved to be the most tenant-friendly region, claiming 38 out of the top 50 spots on the list.
Unveiling the Strengths of the “Silicon Peach”
RentCafe’s index assessed various important aspects such as economic vitality, apartment quality, traffic, air quality, and natural amenities among other factors, which were then organized into three primary categories: quality of life, cost of living and housing, and local economy.
Atlanta exceptionally demonstrated its strength in the local economy category, ranking fourth nationally. The city saw a distinctive increase of 44.6 percent in renter’s income over the past five years. Atlanta boasted the second-highest number of yearly business applications (472) and had a 1 percent annual job growth rate, both contributing to the city’s high ranking.
Embracing abundant entrepreneurship opportunities and housing major employers like Delta Air Lines, UPS, Cox Enterprises, and Home Depot, the city offers a robust economy and a diverse job market, validating the “Silicon Peach” moniker.
Quality of Life and Housing Affordability
In terms of cost of living and housing, Atlanta ranked ninth, offering apartments with an above-average layout spanning 972-square-foot on average, and the city professionals graded 60 percent of these apartments as “high-end”. The city, in fact, offers a living cost that is 1.4 percent under the national average.
Notably, Charleston managed to surpass Atlanta to secure the top spot by edging out in several metrics. However, the comparison might not be strictly fair considering Charleston hosts less than half of Atlanta’s population and less competition for rentals. Charleston reported the highest job growth of 4.1 percent and an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent, which falls under the national rate. Adding to Charleston’s advantage, almost a third of all rentals in The Holy City are newly built.
This gives significant insights into the various aspects that make Atlanta a great place for renters, proving once again that the city is not only a great place to live and work but also a splendid location for prospective renters scouting for commendable living conditions within a financially viable framework.
