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

Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | Dec 13, 2023

Mind the Gap

Incorporating temporary expansion joints on larger construction projects can help avoid serious consequences. Here's why and how.

Giants 400 | Dec 12, 2023

Top 35 Military Facility Construction Firms for 2023

Hensel Phelps, DPR Construction, Walsh Group, and Whiting-Turner top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest military facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. 

Giants 400 | Dec 12, 2023

Top 50 Military Facility Engineering Firms for 2023

Jacobs, Burns & McDonnell, WSP, and AECOM head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest military facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. 

Giants 400 | Dec 12, 2023

Top 40 Military Facility Architecture Firms for 2023

Michael Baker International, HDR, Whitman, Requardt & Associates, and Stantec top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest military facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.  

Codes and Standards | Dec 11, 2023

Washington state tries new approach to phase out fossil fuels in new construction

After pausing a heat pump mandate earlier this year after a federal court overturned Berkeley, Calif.’s ban on gas appliances in new buildings, Washington state enacted a new code provision that seems poised to achieve the same goal.

MFPRO+ News | Dec 11, 2023

U.S. poorly prepared to house growing number of older adults

The U.S. is ill-prepared to provide adequate housing for the growing ranks of older people, according to a report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Over the next decade, the U.S. population older than 75 will increase by 45%, growing from 17 million to nearly 25 million, with many expected to struggle financially.

MFPRO+ News | Dec 7, 2023

7 key predictions for the 2024 multifamily rental housing market

2024 will be the strongest year for new apartment construction in decades, says Apartment List's chief economist.

Codes and Standards | Dec 7, 2023

New York City aims to spur construction of more accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

To address a serious housing shortage, New York City is trying to get more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The city recently unveiled a program that offers owners of single-family homes up to nearly $400,000 to construct an apartment on their property.

MFPRO+ News | Dec 5, 2023

DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2 released

The U.S. Department of Energy has released Zero Energy Ready Home Multifamily Version 2. The latest version of the certification program increases energy efficiency and performance levels, adds electric readiness, and makes compliance pathways and the certification process more consistent with the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (ESMFNC) program.

Transit Facilities | Dec 4, 2023

6 guideposts for cities to create equitable transit-oriented developments

Austin, Texas, has developed an ETOD Policy Toolkit Study to make transit-oriented developments more equitable for current and future residents and businesses.

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