flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Midwest metros see greatest rent increase in September 2023

Multifamily Housing

Midwest metros see greatest rent increase in September 2023

Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and Memphis top the list of metros experiencing the greatest rent increase year-over-year, according to a Rent.com report.


By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor | September 26, 2023
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA Skyline
Oklahoma City, Okla., has seen a 14.79% increase in rent year-over-year, and the highest month-over-month change in the U.S., according to the report. Photo courtesy Adobe Stock

The September 2023 Rent Report by Rent.com shows that metropolitan areas in the Midwest made up a majority of gainers in rent price of the last year. While the median monthly price of rent has increased by 0.71% in August, the year-over-year estimates show a national change of -0.06 percent. The median monthly cost of rent in August 2023 was $2,052.

For some U.S. metros, the data tells a different story.

Top 10 Metro Rent Increases

The majority of metros that have experienced the greatest rent increase year-over-year are in the Midwest.

  • Oklahoma City, Okla.
  • Kansas City, Mo.
  • Memphis, Tenn.
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Minneapolis, Minn.
  • Milwaukee, Wis.
  • Providence, R.I.
  • Buffalo, N.Y.
  • Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Birmingham, Ala.

1. Oklahoma City, Okla.

14.79% increase YoY

Oklahoma City, Okla., skyline
Oklahoma City, Okla., courtesy Adobe Stock

Oklahoma City has seen a 14.79% increase in rent year-over-year. The metro also claims the highest rent increase month-over-month with an 8.86% increase from July to August 2023. The median rent in the city is $1,426—the lowest of the 10 metros.


2. Kansas City, Mo.

14.21% increase YoY

Kansas City skyline
Kansas City, Mo., courtesy Adobe Stock

Kansas City has seen a 14.21% increase in rent year-over-year. The metro has a month-over-month increase of just 0.03 percent. The median rent in the city is $1,696.


3. Memphis, Tenn.

9.81% increase YoY

Memphis, Tennessee, USA skyline over Beale Street
Memphis, Tenn., courtesy Adobe Stock

Memphis has seen a 9.81% increase in rent year-over-year, with a -0.03% change month-over-month in August 2023. The median rent in the city is $1,699.


4. Columbus, Ohio

9.33% increase YoY

View of downtown Columbus Ohio Skyline at Sunset
Columbus, Ohio, courtesy Adobe Stock

Columbus has seen a 9.33% increase in rent year-over-year. The metro has a month-over-month increase of 0.35 percent. The median rent in the city is $1,807.


5. Minneapolis, Minn.

9.24% increase YoY

Minneapolis Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minn., courtesy Adobe Stock

Minneapolis has seen a 9.24% increase in rent year-over-year, with a -0.29% change month-over-month in August 2023. The median rent in the city is $1,892.


6. Milwaukee, Wis.

8.28% increase YoY

Milwaukee Wisconsin Lakefront 2019
Milwaukee, Wis., courtesy Adobe Stock

Milwaukee has seen an 8.28% increase in rent year-over-year. The area's month-over-month rent price change is -0.58 percent, and its median rent is $1,725.


7. Providence, R.I.

8.15% increase YoY

Aerial Providence, Rhode Island capitol building
Providence, R.I., courtesy Adobe Stock

Providence has seen an increase in both YoY and month-over-month (MoM) rent prices. The metro's rent increased 8.15% year-over-year and 1.96% MoM. The median rent in Providence is the highest of the top 10 metros—sitting at $2,743 in August 2023.


8. Buffalo, N.Y.

8.11% increase YoY

Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, N.Y., courtesy Adobe Stock

Buffalo has seen an 8.11% increase in rent year-over-year, with no change month-over-month. The median rent in the city is $1,617.


9. Jacksonville, Fla.

8.09% increase YoY

Jacksonville, Florida sunset
Jacksonville, Fla., courtesy Adobe Stock

Jacksonville has seen an 8.09% increase in rent year-over-year. The metro has a month-over-month increase of 3.94 percent. The median rent in the city is $1,766.


10. Birmingham, Ala.

7.65% increase YoY

Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Ala., courtesy Adobe Stock

Birmingham has seen an 7.65% increase in rent year-over-year. The metro has the lowest month-over-month change of the list at -1.85 percent. The median rent in the city is $1,643.



Top 10 Metro Rent Decreases

Alternatively, here are the top 10 U.S. metros with the biggest decrease in rent year-over-year:

  • Portland, Ore. (-13.41%)
  • Las Vegas, Nev. (-11.90%)
  • New Orleans, La. (-8.97%)
  • Austin, Texas (-7.85%)
  • Cincinnati, Ohio (-6.19%)
  • Salt Lake City, Utah (-5.27%)
  • Louisville, Ky. (-4.68%)
  • Pittsburgh, Pa. (-4.46%)
  • Raleigh, N.C. (-4.26%)
  • San Francisco, Calif. (-3.38%)

To read the full September 2023 Rent Report, visit Rent.com

Related Stories

Multifamily Housing | Mar 19, 2024

Jim Chapman Construction Group completes its second college town BTR community

JCCG's 200-unit Cottages at Lexington, in Athens, Ga., is fully leased.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 19, 2024

Two senior housing properties renovated with 608 replacement windows

Renovation of the two properties, with 200 apartments for seniors, was financed through a special public/private arrangement.

MFPRO+ New Projects | Mar 18, 2024

Luxury apartments in New York restore and renovate a century-old residential building

COOKFOX Architects has completed a luxury apartment building at 378 West End Avenue in New York City. The project restored and renovated the original residence built in 1915, while extending a new structure east on West 78th Street. 

Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2024

YWCA building in Boston’s Back Bay converted into 210 affordable rental apartments

Renovation of YWCA at 140 Clarendon Street will serve 111 previously unhoused families and individuals.

Adaptive Reuse | Mar 15, 2024

San Francisco voters approve tax break for office-to-residential conversions

San Francisco voters recently approved a ballot measure to offer tax breaks to developers who convert commercial buildings to residential use. The tax break applies to conversions of up to 5 million sf of commercial space through 2030. 

Apartments | Mar 13, 2024

A landscaped canyon runs through this luxury apartment development in Denver

Set to open in April, One River North is a 16-story, 187-unit luxury apartment building with private, open-air terraces located in Denver’s RiNo arts district. Biophilic design plays a central role throughout the building, allowing residents to connect with nature and providing a distinctive living experience.

Affordable Housing | Mar 12, 2024

An all-electric affordable housing project in Southern California offers 48 apartments plus community spaces

In Santa Monica, Calif., Brunson Terrace is an all-electric, 100% affordable housing project that’s over eight times more energy efficient than similar buildings, according to architect Brooks + Scarpa. Located across the street from Santa Monica College, the net zero building has been certified LEED Platinum.

MFPRO+ News | Mar 12, 2024

Multifamily housing starts and permitting activity drop 10% year-over-year

The past year saw over 1.4 million new homes added to the national housing inventory. Despite the 4% growth in units, both the number of new homes under construction and the number of permits dropped year-over-year.

Affordable Housing | Mar 11, 2024

Los Angeles’s streamlined approval policies leading to boom in affordable housing plans

Since December 2022, Los Angeles’s planning department has received plans for more than 13,770 affordable units. The number of units put in the approval pipeline in roughly one year is just below the total number of affordable units approved in Los Angeles in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined.

MFPRO+ Special Reports | Mar 6, 2024

Top 10 trends in senior living facilities for 2024

The 65-and-over population is growing faster than any other age group. Architects, engineers, and contractors are coming up with creative senior housing solutions to better serve this burgeoning cohort. 

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021