City limits + metro benchmark

Where city rents and home values break from their wider metro

Which published US cities carry a rent or home-value premium or discount relative to the direct Zillow index for their linked metro?

City limits and metropolitan areas answer different housing questions. This atlas compares like-for-like Zillow index families in the same release month, then keeps rent, home value and gross yield separate.

Cities reviewed
450
finite starting corpus
Direct city–metro rows
432
272 linked metros
Both indexes discounted
215
city rent and home value below metro index
Median yield gap
▲ 0.1%
city minus metro gross yield
What the boundary comparison adds

A metro headline can conceal a very different city-level price and rent relationship

The finite published corpus starts with 450 city briefs. Exactly 432 have a stored metro link and complete, month-aligned city and metro Zillow indexes. The other 18remain outside every result rather than inheriting a nearby value.

San Francisco, CAhas the largest city rent premium in the current set at ▲ 33.3%. At the other end, Joliet, ILcarries a ▼ 29.1% rent gap relative to its linked metro index.

Premium and discount describe two Zillow index levels at different boundaries. They do not label a city cheap, expensive, good or bad.

Rent and home values do not always move to the same side of metro parity. That is why the chart keeps both axes visible and reports the yield difference separately. Use the interactive explorer to search the complete set, then open the city and metro pages before applying property-level expenses or financing.

432 cities with direct, month-aligned Zillow indexes

City premium or discount relative to its linked metro

Right means a higher city home-value index; up means a higher city rent index. Zero lines mean parity with the wider metro.

City rent and home-value gaps relative to linked metro indexesScatter plot of reviewed cities. The horizontal axis is city home value relative to the linked metro. The vertical axis is city rent relative to the linked metro.-127%-127%-85%-85%-42%-42%0%0%42%42%85%85%127%127%Princeton, NJ: rent 32.0%, home value 117.7%, yield gap -2.7%Mount Pleasant, SC: rent 17.4%, home value 103.3%, yield gap -2.4%Franklin, TN: rent 17.8%, home value 102.8%, yield gap -2.0%Scottsdale, AZ: rent 25.4%, home value 92.0%, yield gap -1.6%Santa Barbara, CA: rent 20.4%, home value 83.9%, yield gap -1.4%Frisco, TX: rent 11.2%, home value 78.9%, yield gap -2.1%Naperville, IL: rent 1.5%, home value 76.8%, yield gap -3.2%Detroit, MI: rent -10.7%, home value -71.6%, yield gap 14.4%West Chester, PA: rent 14.2%, home value 71.5%, yield gap -2.0%Flint, MI: rent -10.9%, home value -66.6%, yield gap 10.9%Redwood City, CA: rent 19.6%, home value 65.0%, yield gap -1.0%Kirkland, WA: rent 15.7%, home value 64.7%, yield gap -1.1%Jackson, MS: rent -14.7%, home value -60.2%, yield gap 9.5%Youngstown, OH: rent 3.9%, home value -59.7%, yield gap 11.0%Irvine, CA: rent 15.8%, home value 58.9%, yield gap -1.0%Annapolis, MD: rent 23.9%, home value 55.4%, yield gap -1.2%Chapel Hill, NC: rent 4.3%, home value 54.5%, yield gap -1.6%Baltimore, MD: rent -7.1%, home value -52.7%, yield gap 5.5%Cleveland, OH: rent -3.0%, home value -52.5%, yield gap 7.2%Lancaster, CA: rent -17.9%, home value -51.7%, yield gap 2.5%Palmdale, CA: rent -7.1%, home value -47.8%, yield gap 2.8%Carlsbad, CA: rent 19.0%, home value 47.5%, yield gap -0.7%Birmingham, AL: rent -7.0%, home value -47.1%, yield gap 5.0%Sugar Land, TX: rent 25.3%, home value 46.4%, yield gap -0.9%Edmond, OK: rent 22.1%, home value 44.7%, yield gap -1.1%Cary, NC: rent 5.1%, home value 44.1%, yield gap -1.3%Atlantic City, NJ: rent -15.3%, home value -42.9%, yield gap 3.1%Deerfield Beach, FL: rent -9.5%, home value -42.8%, yield gap 4.0%Huntington Beach, CA: rent 5.2%, home value 41.5%, yield gap -0.9%Milwaukee, WI: rent -5.3%, home value -41.3%, yield gap 2.9%Akron, OH: rent -10.9%, home value -41.0%, yield gap 3.2%Memphis, TN: rent -10.8%, home value -40.8%, yield gap 3.5%Niagara Falls, NY: rent -17.0%, home value -40.2%, yield gap 2.3%Cambridge, MA: rent 12.1%, home value 39.9%, yield gap -1.0%Philadelphia, PA: rent -5.9%, home value -39.8%, yield gap 3.3%Evanston, IL: rent 12.6%, home value 37.9%, yield gap -1.4%Lorain, OH: rent -27.1%, home value -37.8%, yield gap 1.2%Apex, NC: rent 19.4%, home value 37.7%, yield gap -0.6%Plano, TX: rent 2.4%, home value 37.5%, yield gap -1.4%Charleston, SC: rent 8.7%, home value 37.2%, yield gap -1.2%Oakland, CA: rent -20.8%, home value -36.8%, yield gap 0.9%Canton, GA: rent 16.6%, home value 36.2%, yield gap -0.8%Independence, MO: rent -10.8%, home value -35.4%, yield gap 2.1%Brandon, MS: rent 24.7%, home value 34.8%, yield gap -0.6%Rancho Cucamonga, CA: rent 10.8%, home value 34.6%, yield gap -0.9%Toledo, OH: rent -11.8%, home value -34.3%, yield gap 2.5%Lowell, MA: rent -27.8%, home value -34.0%, yield gap 0.5%San Francisco, CA: rent 33.3%, home value 22.2%, yield gap 0.3%Tacoma, WA: rent -22.9%, home value -33.2%, yield gap 0.6%Los Lunas, NM: rent 33.0%, home value -7.4%, yield gap 2.2%Lansing, MI: rent -5.1%, home value -32.2%, yield gap 2.5%McKinney, TX: rent 8.7%, home value 31.6%, yield gap -1.0%Fremont, CA: rent 0.2%, home value 31.3%, yield gap -0.8%Waukegan, IL: rent -27.5%, home value -31.2%, yield gap 0.4%Sunnyvale, CA: rent 2.5%, home value 31.1%, yield gap -0.6%Brockton, MA: rent -25.0%, home value -30.8%, yield gap 0.4%Racine, WI: rent -19.3%, home value -30.2%, yield gap 0.9%Corona, CA: rent 5.6%, home value 30.1%, yield gap -1.0%Lawrence, MA: rent -26.9%, home value -30.1%, yield gap 0.2%New Rochelle, NY: rent -16.8%, home value 29.7%, yield gap -2.1%Tracy, CA: rent 10.6%, home value 29.5%, yield gap -0.8%Berkeley, CA: rent -10.9%, home value 29.5%, yield gap -1.1%Florissant, MO: rent 10.5%, home value -29.3%, yield gap 3.5%Castle Rock, CO: rent 29.2%, home value 17.5%, yield gap 0.4%Joliet, IL: rent -29.1%, home value -24.7%, yield gap -0.4%Pomona, CA: rent -18.5%, home value -28.9%, yield gap 0.5%Montgomery, AL: rent -6.0%, home value -28.6%, yield gap 2.5%Lynn, MA: rent -28.3%, home value -20.3%, yield gap -0.5%Mesquite, TX: rent -14.1%, home value -28.3%, yield gap 1.1%Des Moines, IA: rent -14.4%, home value -28.3%, yield gap 1.0%Gastonia, NC: rent -12.9%, home value -28.2%, yield gap 1.1%Delray Beach, FL: rent 3.4%, home value -28.2%, yield gap 3.0%Gilbert, AZ: rent 16.5%, home value 28.1%, yield gap -0.4%Fort Pierce, FL: rent -16.7%, home value -27.5%, yield gap 1.1%Ann Arbor, MI: rent 5.6%, home value 26.9%, yield gap -1.0%North Little Rock, AR: rent -12.1%, home value -26.7%, yield gap 1.3%Hayward, CA: rent -20.8%, home value -26.2%, yield gap 0.3%Decatur, GA: rent -4.9%, home value -26.1%, yield gap 1.7%Somerville, MA: rent 11.8%, home value 26.1%, yield gap -0.6%Waterloo, IA: rent -9.8%, home value -26.0%, yield gap 1.3%Woonsocket, RI: rent -22.5%, home value -26.0%, yield gap 0.2%Williamsburg, VA: rent 9.6%, home value 25.6%, yield gap -0.8%Marietta, GA: rent -7.4%, home value 25.5%, yield gap -1.5%Pasadena, CA: rent 0.4%, home value 25.4%, yield gap -0.7%New Braunfels, TX: rent 10.4%, home value 25.3%, yield gap -0.7%Columbus, OH: rent -4.7%, home value -25.1%, yield gap 1.5%Morgantown, WV: rent 1.6%, home value 25.0%, yield gap -1.5%El Cajon, CA: rent -23.9%, home value -13.3%, yield gap -0.5%Pawtucket, RI: rent -13.8%, home value -23.8%, yield gap 0.6%Saginaw, MI: rent -0.4%, home value -23.7%, yield gap 2.4%Glendale, CA: rent -6.6%, home value 23.7%, yield gap -0.9%Longmont, CO: rent -14.6%, home value -23.4%, yield gap 0.4%Burbank, CA: rent -5.6%, home value 23.2%, yield gap -0.8%Yonkers, NY: rent -22.9%, home value -4.4%, yield gap -1.1%Ogden, UT: rent -18.8%, home value -22.7%, yield gap 0.2%Waco, TX: rent -4.2%, home value -22.6%, yield gap 1.6%Kansas City, MO: rent -6.6%, home value -22.4%, yield gap 1.1%Wilkes-Barre, PA: rent 1.8%, home value -22.3%, yield gap 2.1%Miami, FL: rent 11.5%, home value 22.2%, yield gap -0.6%Peoria, IL: rent 4.5%, home value -21.7%, yield gap 2.7%San Bernardino, CA: rent -21.5%, home value -15.4%, yield gap -0.4%Woodstock, GA: rent 15.9%, home value 21.4%, yield gap -0.3%Trenton, NJ: rent -18.4%, home value -21.4%, yield gap 0.3%Mesquite, NV: rent -21.1%, home value -12.3%, yield gap -0.5%Garland, TX: rent -9.2%, home value -21.1%, yield gap 0.8%Inglewood, CA: rent -11.0%, home value -21.0%, yield gap 0.5%Newport News, VA: rent -15.5%, home value -20.9%, yield gap 0.4%Albany, GA: rent -11.7%, home value -20.9%, yield gap 0.9%Shreveport, LA: rent -13.9%, home value -20.8%, yield gap 0.8%Boca Raton, FL: rent 9.1%, home value 20.7%, yield gap -0.6%Mission, TX: rent 20.4%, home value 13.7%, yield gap 0.4%Auburn, AL: rent 5.5%, home value 20.1%, yield gap -0.7%Douglasville, GA: rent 2.8%, home value -20.0%, yield gap 1.7%Canton, OH: rent -4.5%, home value -19.9%, yield gap 1.2%Troy, NY: rent -10.6%, home value -19.9%, yield gap 0.6%Fontana, CA: rent 19.8%, home value 9.1%, yield gap 0.5%Middletown, OH: rent -19.6%, home value -15.1%, yield gap -0.3%Lexington, SC: rent 14.5%, home value 19.5%, yield gap -0.3%Warwick, RI: rent 2.2%, home value -19.4%, yield gap 1.3%Aurora, CO: rent -8.9%, home value -19.3%, yield gap 0.5%Long Beach, CA: rent -19.2%, home value -10.9%, yield gap -0.3%Spring, TX: rent 6.2%, home value 19.2%, yield gap -0.7%Springfield, MA: rent -6.2%, home value -19.2%, yield gap 1.0%Stockton, CA: rent -19.0%, home value -18.9%, yield gap 0.0%Austin, TX: rent -2.3%, home value 18.9%, yield gap -0.8%Towson, MD: rent -0.2%, home value 18.7%, yield gap -0.9%Cincinnati, OH: rent -6.8%, home value -18.6%, yield gap 0.9%Jacksonville, FL: rent -6.3%, home value -18.6%, yield gap 0.9%Whittier, CA: rent -18.4%, home value -14.5%, yield gap -0.2%Fort Worth, TX: rent -2.3%, home value -18.2%, yield gap 1.1%Orange, CA: rent 8.7%, home value 17.9%, yield gap -0.3%Auburn, WA: rent -13.9%, home value -17.8%, yield gap 0.2%Santa Clarita, CA: rent -4.1%, home value -17.6%, yield gap 0.6%Providence, RI: rent 5.6%, home value -17.5%, yield gap 1.4%Santa Cruz, CA: rent 1.1%, home value 17.5%, yield gap -0.5%Green Bay, WI: rent -3.7%, home value -17.4%, yield gap 0.7%Katy, TX: rent 17.4%, home value 9.4%, yield gap 0.5%Sacramento, CA: rent -10.2%, home value -17.3%, yield gap 0.4%Syracuse, NY: rent -4.2%, home value -16.8%, yield gap 1.1%South Bend, IN: rent -2.8%, home value -16.7%, yield gap 1.1%Chandler, AZ: rent 9.8%, home value 16.7%, yield gap -0.3%Rockford, IL: rent -7.4%, home value -16.6%, yield gap 0.8%Columbus, GA: rent -1.5%, home value -16.5%, yield gap 1.3%Elk Grove, CA: rent 16.4%, home value 9.1%, yield gap 0.3%Escondido, CA: rent -16.3%, home value -15.1%, yield gap 0.0%Norfolk, VA: rent -6.7%, home value -16.2%, yield gap 0.7%Greeley, CO: rent -16.1%, home value -15.1%, yield gap -0.1%Decatur, IL: rent -1.0%, home value -15.8%, yield gap 1.7%Nampa, ID: rent -13.2%, home value -15.8%, yield gap 0.1%Chico, CA: rent 1.1%, home value 15.7%, yield gap -0.6%Spartanburg, SC: rent -8.3%, home value -15.7%, yield gap 0.6%New York, NY: rent 15.7%, home value 12.0%, yield gap 0.2%Manchester, NH: rent -4.6%, home value -15.6%, yield gap 0.6%Boynton Beach, FL: rent -10.8%, home value -15.5%, yield gap 0.4%Oklahoma City, OK: rent -6.8%, home value -15.4%, yield gap 0.7%Yukon, OK: rent 15.4%, home value 11.6%, yield gap 0.2%Warner Robins, GA: rent -4.6%, home value -15.4%, yield gap 0.9%West Palm Beach, FL: rent -11.3%, home value -15.3%, yield gap 0.3%Slidell, LA: rent -9.6%, home value -15.2%, yield gap 0.5%Jackson, MI: rent 1.7%, home value -15.1%, yield gap 1.2%Dallas, TX: rent -3.3%, home value -15.1%, yield gap 0.8%Reading, PA: rent -7.9%, home value -15.0%, yield gap 0.5%Alexandria, LA: rent 2.6%, home value -15.0%, yield gap 1.6%Florence, SC: rent 2.5%, home value 15.0%, yield gap -0.8%Minneapolis, MN: rent -2.4%, home value -14.9%, yield gap 0.8%East Providence, RI: rent -12.2%, home value -14.9%, yield gap 0.2%Virginia Beach, VA: rent 9.9%, home value 14.9%, yield gap -0.3%Seattle, WA: rent -2.0%, home value 14.9%, yield gap -0.5%Buffalo, NY: rent -2.1%, home value -14.8%, yield gap 0.9%Oshkosh, WI: rent 3.4%, home value -14.6%, yield gap 1.0%Roseville, CA: rent 14.6%, home value 11.7%, yield gap 0.1%Pearl City, HI: rent -14.4%, home value 10.0%, yield gap -0.9%Ontario, CA: rent 3.8%, home value 14.4%, yield gap -0.5%Quincy, MA: rent -14.3%, home value -7.5%, yield gap -0.4%Arlington, TX: rent -7.6%, home value -14.3%, yield gap 0.4%Everett, WA: rent -14.2%, home value -12.2%, yield gap -0.1%Houston, TX: rent -4.9%, home value -14.2%, yield gap 0.7%Salinas, CA: rent -14.0%, home value -11.8%, yield gap -0.1%Pensacola, FL: rent -5.1%, home value -14.0%, yield gap 0.7%Chesapeake, VA: rent 8.7%, home value 13.9%, yield gap -0.3%Harrisburg, PA: rent -7.6%, home value -13.8%, yield gap 0.4%Elkhart, IN: rent 2.5%, home value -13.6%, yield gap 1.0%Kalispell, MT: rent -4.5%, home value -13.5%, yield gap 0.4%Springfield, IL: rent -2.5%, home value -13.5%, yield gap 0.9%Grand Rapids, MI: rent -1.1%, home value -13.4%, yield gap 0.8%Oxnard, CA: rent -2.5%, home value -13.3%, yield gap 0.5%Allentown, PA: rent -6.9%, home value -13.3%, yield gap 0.4%Rochester, NY: rent -3.0%, home value -13.3%, yield gap 0.8%Bradenton, FL: rent -13.2%, home value -12.6%, yield gap 0.0%Cedar Rapids, IA: rent 1.1%, home value -13.1%, yield gap 1.0%Henderson, NV: rent 4.5%, home value 13.0%, yield gap -0.4%Scranton, PA: rent -1.4%, home value -13.0%, yield gap 0.9%Grand Prairie, TX: rent -3.8%, home value -13.0%, yield gap 0.6%Duluth, MN: rent 8.6%, home value 13.0%, yield gap -0.2%Tulsa, OK: rent -6.5%, home value -12.9%, yield gap 0.5%Kalamazoo, MI: rent -2.6%, home value -12.7%, yield gap 0.6%Edinburg, TX: rent -8.5%, home value 12.6%, yield gap -1.3%Killeen, TX: rent -6.4%, home value -12.6%, yield gap 0.5%Lafayette, IN: rent -12.5%, home value -6.6%, yield gap -0.4%Fayetteville, NC: rent -5.0%, home value -12.5%, yield gap 0.6%Dearborn, MI: rent 12.3%, home value -6.1%, yield gap 1.3%McDonough, GA: rent -0.4%, home value -12.1%, yield gap 0.8%Conway, AR: rent 12.1%, home value 8.4%, yield gap 0.2%Glendale, AZ: rent -12.0%, home value -8.9%, yield gap -0.2%Hialeah, FL: rent -11.9%, home value -6.6%, yield gap -0.4%Lake Worth Beach, FL: rent -11.9%, home value -7.4%, yield gap -0.3%Hollywood, FL: rent -11.9%, home value -6.8%, yield gap -0.4%Charleston, WV: rent 5.4%, home value 11.7%, yield gap -0.6%Lafayette, LA: rent -3.4%, home value 11.6%, yield gap -1.1%Schenectady, NY: rent -11.3%, home value -11.6%, yield gap 0.0%Perris, CA: rent 11.6%, home value -7.1%, yield gap 1.0%Denton, TX: rent -11.5%, home value -3.5%, yield gap -0.5%Maryville, TN: rent 11.3%, home value 7.7%, yield gap 0.2%Sanford, FL: rent -6.9%, home value -11.1%, yield gap 0.3%Albany, NY: rent -4.1%, home value -11.1%, yield gap 0.4%San Jose, CA: rent -6.7%, home value -10.7%, yield gap 0.1%Sioux City, IA: rent -3.8%, home value -10.7%, yield gap 0.5%Mesa, AZ: rent -10.6%, home value -2.8%, yield gap -0.4%Riverside, CA: rent -4.7%, home value 10.6%, yield gap -0.7%Vallejo, CA: rent -10.5%, home value -9.2%, yield gap -0.1%San Antonio, TX: rent -2.4%, home value -10.5%, yield gap 0.5%Jonesboro, AR: rent 0.4%, home value 10.5%, yield gap -0.7%Miami Beach, FL: rent 10.5%, home value 10.2%, yield gap 0.0%Dubuque, IA: rent -1.9%, home value -10.1%, yield gap 0.4%Evansville, IN: rent -3.6%, home value -10.0%, yield gap 0.4%Topeka, KS: rent 0.1%, home value -10.0%, yield gap 0.8%Santa Ana, CA: rent -4.8%, home value -10.0%, yield gap 0.2%West Des Moines, IA: rent 4.5%, home value 10.0%, yield gap -0.3%Hagerstown, MD: rent -9.9%, home value -6.4%, yield gap -0.2%Visalia, CA: rent 4.6%, home value 9.9%, yield gap -0.3%Brownsville, TX: rent 9.9%, home value -4.7%, yield gap 1.3%Stillwater, OK: rent 1.2%, home value 9.8%, yield gap -0.5%Santa Rosa, CA: rent -4.9%, home value -9.8%, yield gap 0.2%Springfield, MO: rent -3.0%, home value -9.8%, yield gap 0.4%Manhattan, KS: rent 2.0%, home value 9.7%, yield gap -0.4%Chula Vista, CA: rent 0.6%, home value -9.7%, yield gap 0.4%Columbia, SC: rent -4.9%, home value -9.7%, yield gap 0.4%York, PA: rent -1.5%, home value -9.7%, yield gap 0.5%Lewiston, ME: rent -2.8%, home value -9.6%, yield gap 0.4%Loveland, CO: rent -4.6%, home value -9.6%, yield gap 0.2%Fond du Lac, WI: rent 0.9%, home value -9.6%, yield gap 0.6%Clarksville, TN: rent 3.0%, home value 9.5%, yield gap -0.3%Phoenix, AZ: rent -9.4%, home value -8.2%, yield gap -0.1%Joplin, MO: rent -0.7%, home value -9.3%, yield gap 0.7%Homestead, FL: rent -9.3%, home value -8.3%, yield gap -0.1%Jackson, TN: rent -0.3%, home value 9.2%, yield gap -0.7%Lebanon, PA: rent -1.0%, home value -9.1%, yield gap 0.5%Utica, NY: rent -2.0%, home value -9.1%, yield gap 0.6%Worcester, MA: rent -0.3%, home value -9.0%, yield gap 0.5%Aurora, IL: rent 0.5%, home value -8.9%, yield gap 0.8%Fullerton, CA: rent -1.9%, home value 8.8%, yield gap -0.4%Peoria, AZ: rent 8.3%, home value 8.7%, yield gap 0.0%Muncie, IN: rent -0.6%, home value -8.7%, yield gap 0.6%Anaheim, CA: rent -8.6%, home value -1.4%, yield gap -0.3%Ames, IA: rent 6.1%, home value 8.6%, yield gap -0.1%Lakeland, FL: rent -8.6%, home value 4.9%, yield gap -1.0%Fort Myers, FL: rent -5.1%, home value -8.5%, yield gap 0.3%Bellingham, WA: rent -1.1%, home value 8.5%, yield gap -0.3%Garden Grove, CA: rent -8.5%, home value 5.0%, yield gap -0.5%Bowling Green, KY: rent 0.5%, home value 8.4%, yield gap -0.4%Wichita, KS: rent -4.8%, home value -8.3%, yield gap 0.2%Erie, PA: rent -5.9%, home value -8.1%, yield gap 0.1%Boston, MA: rent 8.1%, home value 5.7%, yield gap 0.1%Lawton, OK: rent -2.2%, home value -8.0%, yield gap 0.5%Huntsville, AL: rent -4.3%, home value -8.0%, yield gap 0.2%Santa Clara, CA: rent 4.3%, home value 8.0%, yield gap -0.1%Asheville, NC: rent 0.0%, home value 7.9%, yield gap -0.3%Dover, DE: rent -6.2%, home value -7.9%, yield gap 0.1%Rogers, AR: rent -7.9%, home value 4.7%, yield gap -0.6%Concord, NH: rent -6.0%, home value -7.8%, yield gap 0.1%Fayetteville, AR: rent 7.6%, home value 4.1%, yield gap 0.2%Grand Forks, ND: rent 2.1%, home value 7.5%, yield gap -0.2%Fort Lauderdale, FL: rent 3.7%, home value 7.3%, yield gap -0.2%Norman, OK: rent -0.7%, home value 7.3%, yield gap -0.5%Kissimmee, FL: rent 3.8%, home value -7.2%, yield gap 0.7%Beaumont, TX: rent -3.0%, home value -7.1%, yield gap 0.4%Bakersfield, CA: rent 5.0%, home value 7.1%, yield gap -0.1%San Angelo, TX: rent -0.3%, home value -7.0%, yield gap 0.5%Davenport, IA: rent -6.9%, home value -0.4%, yield gap -0.4%Moreno Valley, CA: rent -6.9%, home value -5.6%, yield gap -0.1%Murfreesboro, TN: rent -6.8%, home value -6.0%, yield gap 0.0%Decatur, AL: rent -6.8%, home value -5.0%, yield gap -0.1%Chicago, IL: rent 5.9%, home value -6.8%, yield gap 1.0%Oceanside, CA: rent -0.6%, home value -6.8%, yield gap 0.3%Tyler, TX: rent -3.8%, home value -6.7%, yield gap 0.2%Baton Rouge, LA: rent -1.4%, home value -6.7%, yield gap 0.4%Temple, TX: rent 6.7%, home value -1.1%, yield gap 0.5%Springfield, OH: rent 6.7%, home value -5.8%, yield gap 0.9%Medford, OR: rent -6.5%, home value -6.5%, yield gap 0.0%New Orleans, LA: rent 2.9%, home value -6.5%, yield gap 0.7%Roanoke, VA: rent -1.5%, home value -6.5%, yield gap 0.3%San Diego, CA: rent 1.6%, home value 6.5%, yield gap -0.2%Raleigh, NC: rent -6.5%, home value -0.5%, yield gap -0.3%Biloxi, MS: rent -5.0%, home value 6.3%, yield gap -0.8%Winston-Salem, NC: rent -1.7%, home value -6.1%, yield gap 0.3%Kearney, NE: rent 2.4%, home value 6.0%, yield gap -0.2%Lakewood, CO: rent -6.0%, home value 0.0%, yield gap -0.2%Bismarck, ND: rent 0.0%, home value 5.9%, yield gap -0.3%Yuma, AZ: rent 0.3%, home value 5.9%, yield gap -0.3%Jefferson City, MO: rent 5.9%, home value 0.6%, yield gap 0.2%Savannah, GA: rent -0.7%, home value -5.9%, yield gap 0.3%Denver, CO: rent -2.8%, home value -5.9%, yield gap 0.1%Wilmington, NC: rent -1.9%, home value -5.8%, yield gap 0.2%Owensboro, KY: rent -5.7%, home value 0.4%, yield gap -0.4%North Las Vegas, NV: rent 5.6%, home value -5.1%, yield gap 0.6%Yakima, WA: rent -5.6%, home value 2.8%, yield gap -0.4%Irving, TX: rent -4.9%, home value -5.6%, yield gap 0.0%Valdosta, GA: rent -1.6%, home value -5.5%, yield gap 0.3%Binghamton, NY: rent -1.9%, home value -5.4%, yield gap 0.3%Champaign, IL: rent 5.4%, home value -0.1%, yield gap 0.4%Pembroke Pines, FL: rent -5.4%, home value 2.6%, yield gap -0.5%Tampa, FL: rent -1.0%, home value 5.3%, yield gap -0.4%Los Angeles, CA: rent -5.3%, home value -1.9%, yield gap -0.1%Columbus, MS: rent -0.6%, home value -5.2%, yield gap 0.4%Myrtle Beach, SC: rent -1.9%, home value -5.2%, yield gap 0.2%Dothan, AL: rent -1.9%, home value 5.2%, yield gap -0.5%Flagstaff, AZ: rent -0.3%, home value 5.1%, yield gap -0.2%Tucson, AZ: rent -3.9%, home value -5.1%, yield gap 0.1%Richmond, VA: rent -5.1%, home value -5.1%, yield gap 0.0%Greenville, SC: rent -0.6%, home value 5.1%, yield gap -0.3%Merced, CA: rent -2.3%, home value -5.1%, yield gap 0.2%Spokane, WA: rent -3.2%, home value -5.1%, yield gap 0.1%Santa Fe, NM: rent 0.1%, home value 5.1%, yield gap -0.2%Bloomington, IN: rent 0.1%, home value 5.0%, yield gap -0.3%Iowa City, IA: rent -5.0%, home value 0.5%, yield gap -0.3%Fort Smith, AR: rent 2.3%, home value -4.8%, yield gap 0.5%Conroe, TX: rent -4.8%, home value 2.3%, yield gap -0.4%Johnson City, TN: rent -0.4%, home value 4.7%, yield gap -0.3%Clearwater, FL: rent -2.9%, home value -4.7%, yield gap 0.1%Easton, PA: rent 4.0%, home value 4.7%, yield gap 0.0%Portland, OR: rent -4.7%, home value -2.3%, yield gap -0.1%Round Rock, TX: rent 3.7%, home value -4.7%, yield gap 0.4%Tempe, AZ: rent -3.8%, home value 4.7%, yield gap -0.4%Redding, CA: rent -0.5%, home value 4.6%, yield gap -0.3%Pittsburgh, PA: rent 4.6%, home value 4.5%, yield gap 0.0%Amarillo, TX: rent -0.3%, home value -4.6%, yield gap 0.3%Fresno, CA: rent -4.4%, home value -4.5%, yield gap 0.0%Pasco, WA: rent -2.3%, home value -4.5%, yield gap 0.1%Eugene, OR: rent 3.0%, home value 4.5%, yield gap -0.1%Tuscaloosa, AL: rent -3.2%, home value 4.5%, yield gap -0.6%Little Rock, AR: rent -4.5%, home value -4.3%, yield gap 0.0%Terre Haute, IN: rent 0.6%, home value -4.4%, yield gap 0.4%Fremont, NE: rent 1.1%, home value 4.4%, yield gap -0.2%Fort Wayne, IN: rent -0.2%, home value -4.3%, yield gap 0.3%Greenville, NC: rent -4.3%, home value -3.2%, yield gap -0.1%Anchorage, AK: rent -4.3%, home value -0.5%, yield gap -0.2%Modesto, CA: rent -2.9%, home value -4.3%, yield gap 0.1%Madison, WI: rent -1.2%, home value -4.2%, yield gap 0.1%Gainesville, GA: rent -2.6%, home value -4.2%, yield gap 0.1%Sarasota, FL: rent 4.0%, home value 2.3%, yield gap 0.1%Kingsport, TN: rent -0.5%, home value 4.0%, yield gap -0.3%Portland, ME: rent 3.3%, home value 3.9%, yield gap 0.0%Enid, OK: rent -0.5%, home value -3.9%, yield gap 0.4%Tallahassee, FL: rent -0.4%, home value 3.8%, yield gap -0.3%Fargo, ND: rent -3.8%, home value -1.3%, yield gap -0.1%Beaverton, OR: rent 3.7%, home value -3.8%, yield gap 0.3%Newnan, GA: rent -1.8%, home value -3.7%, yield gap 0.1%Bozeman, MT: rent -0.5%, home value 3.7%, yield gap -0.1%Bloomington, IL: rent -0.5%, home value 3.6%, yield gap -0.2%Durham, NC: rent 0.5%, home value -3.6%, yield gap 0.2%Omaha, NE: rent 0.7%, home value -3.6%, yield gap 0.2%Reno, NV: rent -3.6%, home value 0.5%, yield gap -0.2%Idaho Falls, ID: rent -2.2%, home value -3.5%, yield gap 0.1%Orlando, FL: rent -3.5%, home value -3.1%, yield gap 0.0%Washington, DC: rent 3.4%, home value -0.9%, yield gap 0.2%Salem, OR: rent -2.5%, home value -3.3%, yield gap 0.0%Hutchinson, KS: rent -0.8%, home value -3.2%, yield gap 0.2%Concord, NC: rent 3.1%, home value -1.0%, yield gap 0.2%Minot, ND: rent -0.3%, home value 3.1%, yield gap -0.2%Norfolk, NE: rent 3.1%, home value 1.5%, yield gap 0.1%Atlanta, GA: rent 3.1%, home value 1.1%, yield gap 0.1%Victoria, TX: rent 0.0%, home value -3.0%, yield gap 0.2%Lincoln, NE: rent 0.2%, home value -2.9%, yield gap 0.2%Nashua, NH: rent 2.8%, home value -2.6%, yield gap 0.3%Apopka, FL: rent 0.5%, home value 2.8%, yield gap -0.1%Hot Springs, AR: rent -2.7%, home value -0.4%, yield gap -0.1%Oxford, MS: rent 0.0%, home value 2.7%, yield gap -0.2%Grants Pass, OR: rent 0.3%, home value 2.5%, yield gap -0.1%Billings, MT: rent 1.0%, home value -2.4%, yield gap 0.1%Albuquerque, NM: rent -2.4%, home value -1.1%, yield gap -0.1%Sioux Falls, SD: rent 1.3%, home value -2.3%, yield gap 0.2%Lake Charles, LA: rent 0.1%, home value 2.3%, yield gap -0.2%Roswell, NM: rent 0.0%, home value 2.3%, yield gap -0.2%Salt Lake City, UT: rent -0.5%, home value 2.3%, yield gap -0.1%Rapid City, SD: rent -0.8%, home value -2.2%, yield gap 0.1%Colorado Springs, CO: rent -2.2%, home value -1.5%, yield gap 0.0%Charlotte, NC: rent -0.2%, home value 2.2%, yield gap -0.1%Hamilton, OH: rent 2.1%, home value -0.9%, yield gap 0.2%Hattiesburg, MS: rent 2.1%, home value 1.6%, yield gap 0.0%Fairbanks, AK: rent -1.4%, home value -2.1%, yield gap 0.0%Layton, UT: rent 1.8%, home value 2.1%, yield gap 0.0%Grand Junction, CO: rent 0.1%, home value -2.0%, yield gap 0.1%Fort Collins, CO: rent -0.6%, home value 2.0%, yield gap -0.1%Cape Coral, FL: rent 2.0%, home value -0.3%, yield gap 0.2%Gainesville, FL: rent -1.1%, home value -2.0%, yield gap 0.1%El Paso, TX: rent -0.5%, home value 1.9%, yield gap -0.2%Laredo, TX: rent 0.0%, home value 1.9%, yield gap -0.1%Bangor, ME: rent 1.8%, home value 1.9%, yield gap 0.0%Mobile, AL: rent -1.8%, home value 0.5%, yield gap -0.2%Knoxville, TN: rent -1.2%, home value 1.8%, yield gap -0.2%Las Cruces, NM: rent -1.7%, home value 0.9%, yield gap -0.2%Ocala, FL: rent -1.1%, home value -1.7%, yield gap 0.0%Salina, KS: rent 0.5%, home value -1.6%, yield gap 0.1%Las Vegas, NV: rent -1.5%, home value -1.1%, yield gap 0.0%Brookings, SD: rent 1.5%, home value -0.5%, yield gap 0.1%Lawrenceville, GA: rent 1.5%, home value 0.2%, yield gap 0.1%Naples, FL: rent -0.8%, home value -1.3%, yield gap 0.0%Coeur d'Alene, ID: rent -1.2%, home value 0.5%, yield gap -0.1%Eau Claire, WI: rent -0.1%, home value -1.2%, yield gap 0.1%Napa, CA: rent -1.2%, home value -1.0%, yield gap 0.0%Missoula, MT: rent -1.1%, home value -1.1%, yield gap 0.0%Columbia, MO: rent 0.6%, home value 1.0%, yield gap 0.0%Abilene, TX: rent 0.6%, home value 1.0%, yield gap 0.0%Helena, MT: rent 1.0%, home value 0.9%, yield gap 0.0%Grand Island, NE: rent 0.0%, home value -1.0%, yield gap 0.1%Chattanooga, TN: rent -0.9%, home value -1.0%, yield gap 0.0%Odessa, TX: rent -0.9%, home value -0.8%, yield gap 0.0%Midland, TX: rent 0.8%, home value 0.3%, yield gap 0.0%Rochester, MN: rent 0.4%, home value 0.8%, yield gap 0.0%Lawrence, KS: rent -0.4%, home value -0.8%, yield gap 0.0%Cleveland, TN: rent 0.5%, home value 0.7%, yield gap 0.0%Great Falls, MT: rent 0.2%, home value -0.7%, yield gap 0.0%Casper, WY: rent 0.1%, home value -0.6%, yield gap 0.0%Georgetown, TX: rent -0.6%, home value 0.2%, yield gap 0.0%Corvallis, OR: rent -0.2%, home value 0.5%, yield gap 0.0%Corpus Christi, TX: rent -0.5%, home value 0.2%, yield gap 0.0%Janesville, WI: rent 0.5%, home value 0.1%, yield gap 0.0%Cheyenne, WY: rent 0.3%, home value -0.4%, yield gap 0.0%Lubbock, TX: rent -0.3%, home value -0.4%, yield gap 0.0%Pueblo, CO: rent 0.0%, home value -0.3%, yield gap 0.0%Greensboro, NC: rent 0.3%, home value -0.2%, yield gap 0.0%Clovis, NM: rent 0.0%, home value 0.1%, yield gap 0.0%PrincetonMount PleasantFranklinScottsdaleSanta BarbaraFriscoNapervilleCity home-value premium / discount vs metro →City rent premium / discount vs metro →
Both axes use city divided by its stored linked-metro Zillow index minus one. The metro is a wider boundary containing the city, not an independent control group or a property appraisal.
Decision table

The first 24 rows, with a path to the underlying market

432 total rows Download all rows JSON
Largest city-versus-linked-metro Zillow index gaps
Gap rankCityLinked metroRent gapHome-value gapYield gapReleaseOpen
1Princeton, NJ30,756 peopleTrenton, NJ▲ 32.0%$3,461 vs $2,622▲ 117.7%$987k vs $453k▼ 2.7%2026-06Inspect
2Mount Pleasant, SC93,993 peopleCharleston, SC▲ 17.4%$2,425 vs $2,066▲ 103.3%$887k vs $436k▼ 2.4%2026-06Inspect
3Franklin, TN87,133 peopleNashville, TN▲ 17.8%$2,132 vs $1,810▲ 102.8%$929k vs $458k▼ 2.0%2026-06Inspect
4Scottsdale, AZ243,821 peoplePhoenix, AZ▲ 25.4%$2,173 vs $1,733▲ 92.0%$858k vs $447k▼ 1.6%2026-06Inspect
5Santa Barbara, CA87,779 peopleSanta Maria, CA▲ 20.4%$3,967 vs $3,294▲ 83.9%$1835k vs $998k▼ 1.4%2026-06Inspect
6Frisco, TX219,304 peopleDallas, TX▲ 11.2%$1,861 vs $1,673▲ 78.9%$656k vs $367k▼ 2.1%2026-06Inspect
7Naperville, IL150,692 peopleChicago, IL▲ 1.5%$2,310 vs $2,275▲ 76.8%$636k vs $360k▼ 3.2%2026-06Inspect
8Detroit, MI638,530 peopleDetroit, MI▼ 10.7%$1,356 vs $1,518▼ 71.6%$77k vs $272k▲ 14.4%2026-06Inspect
9West Chester, PA20,666 peoplePhiladelphia, PA▲ 14.2%$2,201 vs $1,928▲ 71.5%$677k vs $395k▼ 2.0%2026-06Inspect
10Flint, MI80,175 peopleFlint, MI▼ 10.9%$969 vs $1,087▼ 66.6%$67k vs $199k▲ 10.9%2026-06Inspect
11Redwood City, CA82,447 peopleSan Francisco, CA▲ 19.6%$3,949 vs $3,301▲ 65.0%$1885k vs $1142k▼ 1.0%2026-06Inspect
12Kirkland, WA92,621 peopleSeattle, WA▲ 15.7%$2,626 vs $2,269▲ 64.7%$1227k vs $745k▼ 1.1%2026-06Inspect
13Jackson, MS146,631 peopleJackson, MS▼ 14.7%$1,270 vs $1,489▼ 60.2%$86k vs $216k▲ 9.5%2026-06Inspect
14Youngstown, OH59,331 peopleYoungstown, OH▲ 3.9%$1,087 vs $1,046▼ 59.7%$73k vs $180k▲ 11.0%2026-06Inspect
15Irvine, CA311,690 peopleLos Angeles, CA▲ 15.8%$3,390 vs $2,927▲ 58.9%$1538k vs $968k▼ 1.0%2026-06Inspect
16Annapolis, MD40,720 peopleBaltimore, MD▲ 23.9%$2,398 vs $1,936▲ 55.4%$633k vs $408k▼ 1.2%2026-06Inspect
17Chapel Hill, NC61,607 peopleDurham, NC▲ 4.3%$1,763 vs $1,691▲ 54.5%$642k vs $416k▼ 1.6%2026-06Inspect
18Baltimore, MD573,243 peopleBaltimore, MD▼ 7.1%$1,799 vs $1,936▼ 52.7%$193k vs $408k▲ 5.5%2026-06Inspect
19Cleveland, OH366,097 peopleCleveland, OH▼ 3.0%$1,430 vs $1,474▼ 52.5%$121k vs $256k▲ 7.2%2026-06Inspect
20Lancaster, CA169,169 peopleLos Angeles, CA▼ 17.9%$2,403 vs $2,927▼ 51.7%$468k vs $968k▲ 2.5%2026-06Inspect
21Palmdale, CA164,634 peopleLos Angeles, CA▼ 7.1%$2,720 vs $2,927▼ 47.8%$506k vs $968k▲ 2.8%2026-06Inspect
22Carlsbad, CA114,373 peopleSan Diego, CA▲ 19.0%$3,560 vs $2,991▲ 47.5%$1388k vs $941k▼ 0.7%2026-06Inspect
23Birmingham, AL198,173 peopleBirmingham, AL▼ 7.0%$1,359 vs $1,462▼ 47.1%$140k vs $264k▲ 5.0%2026-06Inspect
24Sugar Land, TX110,016 peopleHouston, TX▲ 25.3%$2,065 vs $1,648▲ 46.4%$452k vs $309k▼ 0.9%2026-06Inspect

The visible table is intentionally limited for reading. The CSV contains every row that passes the printed inclusion rule.

Reproduce the screen

Inclusion first, interpretation second.

Start with the finite set of current published RentMarker city briefs. Include a city only when it has a stored metro link, direct Zillow city and metro ZHVI and ZORI values, verified gross yields and month-aligned release periods. Do not infer a link or fill a missing value from another geography.

Methodology version: v15

Method

  1. Rent premium or discount divides city ZORI by linked-metro ZORI and subtracts one; home-value premium or discount applies the same calculation to ZHVI.
  2. Gross yield is monthly ZORI multiplied by 12 and divided by ZHVI at each geography; the yield gap is city yield minus metro yield in percentage points.
  3. Rows are ordered by the largest absolute rent-or-home-value gap. The four sign groups are descriptive and never become a recommendation score.

Counter-signals

  • A city premium can reflect housing mix, amenity access or boundary composition and does not prove better investment performance.
  • A rent discount can coexist with weaker demand, higher expenses or substantial differences among neighborhoods and property types.
  • Gross yield excludes taxes, insurance, vacancy, maintenance, management and financing; the metro index is not a property comp.

Limitations

  • ZORI and ZHVI are Zillow market indexes, not simple averages, appraisals, transaction prices or the rent for a specific unit.
  • City and metro boundaries overlap by design: the city is part of the wider metro, so the comparison is contextual rather than independent.
  • Only current city briefs with complete direct evidence enter the atlas; excluded cities remain missing rather than estimated.
Move from market to deal

Use the study to narrow the question—not to skip underwriting.

Open a market for its supply, affordability, migration and risk context. Compare a deliberate substitute, then bring a real property price, rent and expenses into the stress test.

Explore city–metro gaps Stress-test a dealOpen curated comparisons
Source vintages

Every input release used by this study

Release and retrieval dates stay visible so a reader can tell whether two measures describe the same moment.

cbsa delineationOMB/BLS delineation — metro geographyOMB July 2023 delineation · retrieved 2026-07-30census city factsCensus ACS 5-year — city population, households and housingACS 2024 5-year · retrieved 2026-07-29zillow zhviZillow ZHVI — metro home valuesMetro_zhvi_uc_sfrcondo_tier_0.33_0.67_sm_sa_month.csv · retrieved 2026-07-26zillow zhvi cityZillow ZHVI — city home valueszillow_zhvi_city.csv · retrieved 2026-07-29zillow zoriZillow ZORI — metro market rentsMetro_zori_uc_sfrcondomfr_sm_sa_month.csv · retrieved 2026-07-26zillow zori cityZillow ZORI — city market rentszillow_zori_city.csv · retrieved 2026-07-29