The quarterly Rental Competitiveness Index (RCI) by RentCafe analyzes the hottest rental markets in the U.S. to find where in the country it is most challenging to find a rental.
The analysis is based on five indicators: lease renewal rates, apartment occupancy, number of renters competing per unit, average vacancy length, and new apartment supply.
According to the report, the national RCI reached 74.6, up from 73.4 in 2024.
Miami, Fla., is the most competitive large market in the country. Apartments here are leased in just 36 days, and each unit now draws an average of 21 apartment seekers. Lease renewals reached 75% at the start of the moving season, tightening supply even further for prospective renters.
Quinn Purcell is the Managing Editor for Building Design+Construction. He is a graduate of Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and an emphasis in Multiplatform Journalism. He specializes in video, photography, copywriting, feature writing, and graphic design.
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