Rent history + household income

Where rent growth outran household income

Which metros saw Zillow asking rent change faster than nominal median household income between the 2019 and 2024 source vintages?

A current rent burden can hide how a market reached it. This study aligns two named endpoints and keeps rent change, nominal income change and their percentage-point gap separately visible.

Metros compared
292
direct 2019 and 2024 endpoints
Rent changed faster
252
positive rent-minus-income gap
Median rent change
39.7%
Zillow annual-average endpoints
Median income change
28.1%
nominal ACS five-year estimates
What the aligned endpoints reveal

A current burden level does not show who moved faster

The direct intersection contains 292 metros with both 2019 and 2024 endpoints. Across that set, median Zillow asking rent changed 39.7%, while the nominal ACS median household-income estimate changed 28.1%. The median rent-minus-income gap is 11.0%.

Florence, SC has the largest positive gap at 62.0%: rent changed 85.4% against 23.4% nominal household-income change. That is a market-level divergence, not proof that every renter experienced the median.

ACS five-year income estimates summarize survey periods. ZORI tracks asking rents. The chart aligns named endpoints, but it does not turn the two series into the same household panel.

The strongest nominal income change belongs to Pinehurst, NC at 43.6%, paired with 43.3% rent change. Use the interactive explorer to inspect every included metro, then open current affordability, supply and employment evidence before drawing a decision conclusion.

292 metros with both direct endpoints

2019–2024 rent change versus nominal household-income change

Above the diagonal, Zillow rent changed faster than the ACS median household-income estimate.

Metro rent growth compared with nominal household-income growthScatter plot of metros with 2019 and 2024 Zillow annual rent averages and ACS five-year median household-income estimates. Points above the diagonal have rent change greater than nominal income change.0%0%18%18%36%36%53%53%71%71%89%89%rent = income changeFlorence, SC: rent 85.4%, nominal income 23.4%, gap 62.0%Barnstable Town, MA: rent 84.3%, nominal income 28.1%, gap 56.2%Torrington, CT: rent 68.4%, nominal income 17.1%, gap 51.4%Binghamton, NY: rent 59.9%, nominal income 19.0%, gap 40.9%Hinesville, GA: rent 60.1%, nominal income 23.0%, gap 37.1%Bloomington, IL: rent 54.9%, nominal income 18.1%, gap 36.8%Norwich, CT: rent 53.4%, nominal income 17.8%, gap 35.5%Heber, UT: rent 67.6%, nominal income 33.9%, gap 33.7%Kokomo, IN: rent 54.0%, nominal income 22.3%, gap 31.8%Augusta, ME: rent 55.9%, nominal income 24.8%, gap 31.1%Atlantic City, NJ: rent 63.3%, nominal income 32.2%, gap 31.1%Naples, FL: rent 60.1%, nominal income 29.3%, gap 30.8%Johnson City, TN: rent 58.7%, nominal income 30.0%, gap 28.7%Knoxville, TN: rent 61.1%, nominal income 32.6%, gap 28.5%State College, PA: rent 51.5%, nominal income 23.0%, gap 28.5%Lafayette, IN: rent 43.5%, nominal income 16.3%, gap 27.2%Lawton, OK: rent 43.2%, nominal income 16.5%, gap 26.7%South Bend, IN: rent 52.6%, nominal income 26.1%, gap 26.5%Sebastian, FL: rent 60.7%, nominal income 34.3%, gap 26.4%Fayetteville, NC: rent 53.8%, nominal income 27.5%, gap 26.4%Roanoke, VA: rent 47.9%, nominal income 21.5%, gap 26.4%East Stroudsburg, PA: rent 56.5%, nominal income 30.7%, gap 25.8%Youngstown, OH: rent 45.4%, nominal income 19.7%, gap 25.6%Key West, FL: rent 50.8%, nominal income 25.3%, gap 25.5%Reading, PA: rent 50.6%, nominal income 25.2%, gap 25.5%Hilton Head Island, SC: rent 53.2%, nominal income 28.2%, gap 25.0%Springfield, MA: rent 44.7%, nominal income 20.0%, gap 24.7%Greenville, NC: rent 47.4%, nominal income 22.7%, gap 24.7%Homosassa Springs, FL: rent 52.2%, nominal income 27.8%, gap 24.4%Enterprise, AL: rent 47.2%, nominal income 22.9%, gap 24.4%Rockford, IL: rent 45.3%, nominal income 21.4%, gap 23.8%Scranton, PA: rent 45.4%, nominal income 21.8%, gap 23.5%Savannah, GA: rent 53.2%, nominal income 29.8%, gap 23.4%Cape Coral, FL: rent 54.7%, nominal income 31.6%, gap 23.1%Carbondale, IL: rent 31.3%, nominal income 8.2%, gap 23.0%Merced, CA: rent 44.9%, nominal income 22.1%, gap 22.9%Mobile, AL: rent 47.0%, nominal income 24.5%, gap 22.5%Chambersburg, PA: rent 43.8%, nominal income 21.5%, gap 22.3%Albany, GA: rent 48.6%, nominal income 26.9%, gap 21.7%Sebring, FL: rent 55.8%, nominal income 34.1%, gap 21.7%Flagstaff, AZ: rent 44.3%, nominal income 22.7%, gap 21.6%Manchester, NH: rent 48.6%, nominal income 27.1%, gap 21.5%Lake Havasu City, AZ: rent 48.0%, nominal income 26.5%, gap 21.5%Providence, RI: rent 49.8%, nominal income 28.3%, gap 21.4%Dover, DE: rent 43.7%, nominal income 22.3%, gap 21.4%Peoria, IL: rent 42.3%, nominal income 21.0%, gap 21.3%New Haven, CT: rent 47.2%, nominal income 26.2%, gap 21.0%Hartford, CT: rent 43.0%, nominal income 22.3%, gap 20.7%Burlington, NC: rent 52.8%, nominal income 32.1%, gap 20.6%Columbia, SC: rent 42.1%, nominal income 22.1%, gap 20.0%Lawrence, KS: rent 37.2%, nominal income 17.3%, gap 19.9%Lexington, KY: rent 42.4%, nominal income 22.6%, gap 19.8%Columbus, GA: rent 44.5%, nominal income 24.7%, gap 19.8%Syracuse, NY: rent 44.7%, nominal income 25.1%, gap 19.5%Port St. Lucie, FL: rent 54.6%, nominal income 35.1%, gap 19.5%Winchester, VA: rent 45.1%, nominal income 25.7%, gap 19.4%Billings, MT: rent 45.4%, nominal income 26.0%, gap 19.4%Miami, FL: rent 54.1%, nominal income 34.8%, gap 19.3%Greensboro, NC: rent 48.1%, nominal income 28.8%, gap 19.3%Idaho Falls, ID: rent 50.8%, nominal income 31.6%, gap 19.2%Albuquerque, NM: rent 49.6%, nominal income 30.9%, gap 18.7%Gulfport, MS: rent 45.7%, nominal income 27.2%, gap 18.5%Canton, OH: rent 44.1%, nominal income 25.6%, gap 18.5%Myrtle Beach, SC: rent 45.5%, nominal income 27.0%, gap 18.5%Akron, OH: rent 44.7%, nominal income 26.3%, gap 18.3%Bridgeport, CT: rent 38.0%, nominal income 19.8%, gap 18.2%Blacksburg, VA: rent 37.7%, nominal income 19.6%, gap 18.2%Virginia Beach, VA: rent 41.4%, nominal income 23.3%, gap 18.1%Bakersfield, CA: rent 49.6%, nominal income 31.6%, gap 18.0%Topeka, KS: rent 39.0%, nominal income 21.3%, gap 17.7%Sumter, SC: rent 45.0%, nominal income 27.4%, gap 17.6%Tallahassee, FL: rent 43.4%, nominal income 25.8%, gap 17.5%Allentown, PA: rent 42.6%, nominal income 25.0%, gap 17.5%Lynchburg, VA: rent 45.5%, nominal income 28.3%, gap 17.3%Trenton, NJ: rent 41.4%, nominal income 24.2%, gap 17.2%Winston, NC: rent 47.0%, nominal income 29.9%, gap 17.1%Oshkosh, WI: rent 45.0%, nominal income 28.0%, gap 17.0%Hagerstown, MD: rent 45.8%, nominal income 28.9%, gap 16.9%North Port, FL: rent 49.7%, nominal income 33.0%, gap 16.7%Kingston, NY: rent 50.7%, nominal income 34.2%, gap 16.5%Great Falls, MT: rent 52.2%, nominal income 35.6%, gap 16.5%Worcester, MA: rent 47.1%, nominal income 30.7%, gap 16.4%Tampa, FL: rent 50.9%, nominal income 34.6%, gap 16.4%Memphis, TN: rent 41.2%, nominal income 24.8%, gap 16.4%Montgomery, AL: rent 37.8%, nominal income 21.6%, gap 16.3%Fort Wayne, IN: rent 44.9%, nominal income 28.7%, gap 16.2%Staunton, VA: rent 44.7%, nominal income 28.7%, gap 16.0%Punta Gorda, FL: rent 51.8%, nominal income 35.8%, gap 16.0%Tulsa, OK: rent 40.4%, nominal income 24.4%, gap 16.0%Corvallis, OR: rent 41.1%, nominal income 25.2%, gap 16.0%Santa Maria, CA: rent 47.5%, nominal income 31.5%, gap 15.9%Springfield, IL: rent 37.2%, nominal income 21.4%, gap 15.8%El Paso, TX: rent 43.5%, nominal income 27.7%, gap 15.8%Missoula, MT: rent 54.4%, nominal income 38.7%, gap 15.7%Erie, PA: rent 38.4%, nominal income 22.9%, gap 15.5%Moses Lake, WA: rent 47.3%, nominal income 31.9%, gap 15.4%Columbia, MO: rent 47.3%, nominal income 32.0%, gap 15.3%Warner Robins, GA: rent 50.0%, nominal income 34.9%, gap 15.1%Ocala, FL: rent 49.6%, nominal income 34.5%, gap 15.1%Toledo, OH: rent 39.6%, nominal income 24.5%, gap 15.1%Auburn, AL: rent 38.7%, nominal income 23.7%, gap 15.0%Bangor, ME: rent 45.4%, nominal income 30.6%, gap 14.8%Gainesville, GA: rent 43.1%, nominal income 28.4%, gap 14.7%Evansville, IN: rent 40.7%, nominal income 26.2%, gap 14.5%Santa Fe, NM: rent 43.7%, nominal income 29.2%, gap 14.5%Killeen, TX: rent 41.9%, nominal income 27.6%, gap 14.3%Huntsville, AL: rent 47.7%, nominal income 33.4%, gap 14.3%Buffalo, NY: rent 39.6%, nominal income 25.4%, gap 14.3%Lansing, MI: rent 39.4%, nominal income 25.2%, gap 14.1%Casper, WY: rent 29.1%, nominal income 14.9%, gap 14.1%Portland, ME: rent 45.3%, nominal income 31.2%, gap 14.1%Wichita Falls, TX: rent 45.4%, nominal income 31.3%, gap 14.0%Grand Junction, CO: rent 47.0%, nominal income 33.0%, gap 14.0%Pensacola, FL: rent 49.5%, nominal income 35.6%, gap 13.8%Warrensburg, MO: rent 35.4%, nominal income 21.7%, gap 13.7%Athens, GA: rent 52.4%, nominal income 39.0%, gap 13.4%Tucson, AZ: rent 45.0%, nominal income 31.7%, gap 13.2%Harrisburg, PA: rent 37.8%, nominal income 24.7%, gap 13.2%Lakeland, FL: rent 43.6%, nominal income 30.4%, gap 13.1%Spartanburg, SC: rent 36.1%, nominal income 23.0%, gap 13.1%Crestview, FL: rent 45.0%, nominal income 31.9%, gap 13.1%Augusta, GA: rent 42.9%, nominal income 30.2%, gap 12.8%Charleston, SC: rent 46.6%, nominal income 33.9%, gap 12.7%Jackson, MS: rent 30.0%, nominal income 17.4%, gap 12.6%Clarksville, TN: rent 42.7%, nominal income 30.1%, gap 12.6%Cincinnati, OH: rent 39.4%, nominal income 26.8%, gap 12.6%Anchorage, AK: rent 33.5%, nominal income 21.0%, gap 12.5%Flint, MI: rent 40.7%, nominal income 28.2%, gap 12.5%Jackson, MI: rent 35.3%, nominal income 23.1%, gap 12.1%Rochester, NY: rent 39.0%, nominal income 26.9%, gap 12.1%Harrisonburg, VA: rent 45.0%, nominal income 32.9%, gap 12.1%Bellingham, WA: rent 41.8%, nominal income 29.8%, gap 12.0%College Station, TX: rent 31.5%, nominal income 19.6%, gap 11.9%Kansas City, MO: rent 37.1%, nominal income 25.3%, gap 11.8%Ithaca, NY: rent 34.7%, nominal income 22.9%, gap 11.8%Lancaster, PA: rent 43.4%, nominal income 31.6%, gap 11.7%Jacksonville, NC: rent 47.1%, nominal income 35.5%, gap 11.6%Little Rock, AR: rent 34.2%, nominal income 22.7%, gap 11.5%Indianapolis, IN: rent 41.2%, nominal income 29.7%, gap 11.5%Richmond, VA: rent 38.0%, nominal income 26.5%, gap 11.5%Fort Smith, AR: rent 42.1%, nominal income 30.7%, gap 11.4%Cheyenne, WY: rent 31.1%, nominal income 19.8%, gap 11.3%Niles, MI: rent 40.0%, nominal income 28.8%, gap 11.2%Rapid City, SD: rent 41.8%, nominal income 30.6%, gap 11.2%Hutchinson, KS: rent 32.5%, nominal income 21.4%, gap 11.1%Detroit, MI: rent 36.7%, nominal income 25.7%, gap 11.0%Mount Vernon, WA: rent 44.2%, nominal income 33.2%, gap 11.0%Wichita, KS: rent 34.1%, nominal income 23.1%, gap 11.0%Madison, WI: rent 33.6%, nominal income 22.7%, gap 10.9%Richmond, KY: rent 39.0%, nominal income 28.2%, gap 10.9%Louisville, KY: rent 35.7%, nominal income 24.9%, gap 10.8%Springfield, MO: rent 44.7%, nominal income 34.0%, gap 10.6%Johnstown, PA: rent 35.7%, nominal income 25.2%, gap 10.5%Yuba City, CA: rent 44.0%, nominal income 33.5%, gap 10.5%Tuscaloosa, AL: rent 32.5%, nominal income 22.0%, gap 10.4%St. Louis, MO: rent 36.2%, nominal income 25.9%, gap 10.3%Macon, GA: rent 44.5%, nominal income 34.3%, gap 10.2%Omaha, NE: rent 34.9%, nominal income 25.0%, gap 9.9%Lincoln, NE: rent 32.8%, nominal income 23.0%, gap 9.9%Jacksonville, FL: rent 38.5%, nominal income 29.0%, gap 9.5%Oxnard, CA: rent 34.0%, nominal income 24.6%, gap 9.4%Oklahoma City, OK: rent 31.3%, nominal income 22.0%, gap 9.3%Asheville, NC: rent 45.5%, nominal income 36.2%, gap 9.2%York, PA: rent 36.7%, nominal income 27.6%, gap 9.1%Albany, NY: rent 32.6%, nominal income 23.6%, gap 9.0%Champaign, IL: rent 31.1%, nominal income 22.2%, gap 8.9%New Orleans, LA: rent 26.8%, nominal income 18.0%, gap 8.8%Bend, OR: rent 42.6%, nominal income 33.9%, gap 8.7%Columbus, OH: rent 34.4%, nominal income 25.8%, gap 8.7%Gainesville, FL: rent 39.9%, nominal income 31.2%, gap 8.7%Fresno, CA: rent 46.6%, nominal income 38.0%, gap 8.7%Racine, WI: rent 36.0%, nominal income 27.3%, gap 8.6%Las Vegas, NV: rent 37.4%, nominal income 28.9%, gap 8.5%Muncie, IN: rent 42.0%, nominal income 33.6%, gap 8.4%Lafayette, LA: rent 25.2%, nominal income 17.2%, gap 8.0%Sioux Falls, SD: rent 34.1%, nominal income 26.1%, gap 8.0%Columbus, IN: rent 33.9%, nominal income 26.0%, gap 7.9%Grand Rapids, MI: rent 38.8%, nominal income 30.9%, gap 7.9%Las Cruces, NM: rent 46.6%, nominal income 38.7%, gap 7.8%Ann Arbor, MI: rent 30.7%, nominal income 22.9%, gap 7.8%Riverside, CA: rent 45.3%, nominal income 37.7%, gap 7.6%Modesto, CA: rent 41.8%, nominal income 34.2%, gap 7.6%Abilene, TX: rent 35.7%, nominal income 28.2%, gap 7.5%Birmingham, AL: rent 32.0%, nominal income 24.5%, gap 7.5%Palm Bay, FL: rent 45.7%, nominal income 38.2%, gap 7.5%Oak Harbor, WA: rent 39.4%, nominal income 32.0%, gap 7.4%Fargo, ND: rent 26.0%, nominal income 18.7%, gap 7.3%Bismarck, ND: rent 26.6%, nominal income 19.3%, gap 7.3%Chattanooga, TN: rent 43.1%, nominal income 35.8%, gap 7.2%Burlington, VT: rent 37.5%, nominal income 30.3%, gap 7.2%Charlottesville, VA: rent 35.9%, nominal income 28.8%, gap 7.2%Spokane, WA: rent 44.0%, nominal income 37.4%, gap 6.7%Shreveport, LA: rent 27.0%, nominal income 20.5%, gap 6.5%Coeur d'Alene, ID: rent 49.4%, nominal income 43.0%, gap 6.4%Salem, OR: rent 37.4%, nominal income 31.1%, gap 6.3%Kennewick, WA: rent 38.4%, nominal income 32.2%, gap 6.2%Ogden, UT: rent 40.9%, nominal income 34.8%, gap 6.1%St. Cloud, MN: rent 29.3%, nominal income 23.4%, gap 5.9%Jonesboro, AR: rent 29.0%, nominal income 23.2%, gap 5.9%Greenville, SC: rent 35.6%, nominal income 29.8%, gap 5.8%San Luis Obispo, CA: rent 38.1%, nominal income 32.5%, gap 5.5%Bowling Green, KY: rent 32.9%, nominal income 27.4%, gap 5.5%Waco, TX: rent 40.4%, nominal income 34.9%, gap 5.5%Duluth, MN: rent 32.3%, nominal income 26.9%, gap 5.5%Baltimore, MD: rent 27.3%, nominal income 21.9%, gap 5.4%Wilmington, NC: rent 43.6%, nominal income 38.4%, gap 5.3%Atlanta, GA: rent 36.6%, nominal income 31.3%, gap 5.2%San Diego, CA: rent 39.8%, nominal income 34.6%, gap 5.2%Daphne, AL: rent 40.3%, nominal income 35.1%, gap 5.2%Beaumont, TX: rent 24.8%, nominal income 19.7%, gap 5.1%Olympia, WA: rent 39.2%, nominal income 34.1%, gap 5.1%Brownsville, TX: rent 40.8%, nominal income 35.7%, gap 5.1%Milwaukee, WI: rent 30.4%, nominal income 25.4%, gap 5.0%Cedar Rapids, IA: rent 25.3%, nominal income 20.7%, gap 4.6%Boulder, CO: rent 29.7%, nominal income 25.3%, gap 4.5%Pueblo, CO: rent 41.3%, nominal income 36.8%, gap 4.4%Charlotte, NC: rent 36.2%, nominal income 31.8%, gap 4.4%Amarillo, TX: rent 29.8%, nominal income 25.4%, gap 4.4%Redding, CA: rent 37.1%, nominal income 32.9%, gap 4.3%Kalamazoo, MI: rent 32.3%, nominal income 28.4%, gap 4.0%Orlando, FL: rent 38.4%, nominal income 34.5%, gap 3.9%Phoenix, AZ: rent 42.0%, nominal income 38.2%, gap 3.8%Longview, TX: rent 32.9%, nominal income 29.2%, gap 3.7%Bloomington, IN: rent 35.0%, nominal income 31.6%, gap 3.4%Corpus Christi, TX: rent 23.3%, nominal income 20.4%, gap 2.8%Davenport, IA: rent 27.1%, nominal income 24.3%, gap 2.8%Colorado Springs, CO: rent 34.0%, nominal income 31.2%, gap 2.8%Salt Lake City, UT: rent 33.7%, nominal income 31.1%, gap 2.7%Visalia, CA: rent 46.2%, nominal income 43.5%, gap 2.7%Morgantown, WV: rent 26.1%, nominal income 23.5%, gap 2.6%Deltona, FL: rent 44.0%, nominal income 41.5%, gap 2.4%Waterloo, IA: rent 25.6%, nominal income 23.2%, gap 2.4%Philadelphia, PA: rent 28.5%, nominal income 26.2%, gap 2.3%Sherman, TX: rent 34.0%, nominal income 31.7%, gap 2.3%Pittsburgh, PA: rent 27.1%, nominal income 25.2%, gap 2.0%Nashville, TN: rent 30.6%, nominal income 28.8%, gap 1.8%Baton Rouge, LA: rent 19.7%, nominal income 18.1%, gap 1.5%Iowa City, IA: rent 21.4%, nominal income 20.1%, gap 1.4%Eugene, OR: rent 37.7%, nominal income 36.5%, gap 1.2%St. George, UT: rent 35.9%, nominal income 34.7%, gap 1.2%Vallejo, CA: rent 24.3%, nominal income 23.2%, gap 1.1%Fayetteville, AR: rent 42.7%, nominal income 41.7%, gap 1.0%New York, NY: rent 26.8%, nominal income 25.9%, gap 0.9%Houston, TX: rent 22.6%, nominal income 21.7%, gap 0.9%Boise City, ID: rent 42.8%, nominal income 42.0%, gap 0.9%Fort Collins, CO: rent 31.3%, nominal income 30.4%, gap 0.8%Urban Honolulu, HI: rent 24.4%, nominal income 23.7%, gap 0.7%Chicago, IL: rent 27.3%, nominal income 26.6%, gap 0.6%Washington, DC: rent 22.6%, nominal income 22.1%, gap 0.5%Manhattan, KS: rent 21.3%, nominal income 20.9%, gap 0.4%Raleigh, NC: rent 32.3%, nominal income 32.0%, gap 0.3%Provo, UT: rent 35.4%, nominal income 35.4%, gap 0.0%Dallas, TX: rent 28.2%, nominal income 28.4%, gap -0.2%Pinehurst, NC: rent 43.3%, nominal income 43.6%, gap -0.3%Lubbock, TX: rent 22.2%, nominal income 22.5%, gap -0.3%Wheeling, WV: rent 13.3%, nominal income 13.9%, gap -0.6%Rochester, MN: rent 23.5%, nominal income 24.7%, gap -1.1%Tyler, TX: rent 29.4%, nominal income 30.6%, gap -1.2%Des Moines, IA: rent 21.3%, nominal income 22.5%, gap -1.2%Napa, CA: rent 24.5%, nominal income 25.8%, gap -1.4%Durham, NC: rent 32.6%, nominal income 34.1%, gap -1.4%Sacramento, CA: rent 31.9%, nominal income 34.5%, gap -2.6%Boston, MA: rent 25.4%, nominal income 28.3%, gap -2.9%Grand Forks, ND: rent 22.2%, nominal income 25.6%, gap -3.4%Santa Cruz, CA: rent 31.6%, nominal income 35.1%, gap -3.5%Greeley, CO: rent 27.2%, nominal income 30.9%, gap -3.7%Salinas, CA: rent 33.2%, nominal income 36.9%, gap -3.7%Ames, IA: rent 20.8%, nominal income 24.8%, gap -4.0%San Antonio, TX: rent 21.5%, nominal income 26.3%, gap -4.9%Bremerton, WA: rent 33.2%, nominal income 38.1%, gap -4.9%Los Angeles, CA: rent 26.1%, nominal income 31.5%, gap -5.4%Chico, CA: rent 23.7%, nominal income 29.3%, gap -5.6%Portland, OR: rent 24.5%, nominal income 30.3%, gap -5.8%Reno, NV: rent 28.7%, nominal income 35.0%, gap -6.3%Huntington, WV: rent 25.5%, nominal income 32.2%, gap -6.7%Stockton, CA: rent 36.3%, nominal income 43.1%, gap -6.8%Medford, OR: rent 31.7%, nominal income 38.5%, gap -6.8%Panama City, FL: rent 24.4%, nominal income 31.7%, gap -7.3%Minneapolis, MN: rent 16.8%, nominal income 24.1%, gap -7.3%San Angelo, TX: rent 19.5%, nominal income 27.0%, gap -7.5%Santa Rosa, CA: rent 21.7%, nominal income 29.2%, gap -7.5%Charleston, WV: rent 25.3%, nominal income 32.9%, gap -7.6%Denver, CO: rent 24.9%, nominal income 32.8%, gap -7.9%McAllen, TX: rent 27.4%, nominal income 35.8%, gap -8.4%Odessa, TX: rent 5.1%, nominal income 13.6%, gap -8.5%Austin, TX: rent 21.8%, nominal income 30.7%, gap -8.9%Seattle, WA: rent 23.6%, nominal income 32.6%, gap -9.1%Midland, TX: rent 1.9%, nominal income 17.5%, gap -15.6%Laredo, TX: rent 18.6%, nominal income 35.7%, gap -17.1%San Jose, CA: rent 10.7%, nominal income 32.4%, gap -21.7%San Francisco, CA: rent 6.3%, nominal income 28.3%, gap -21.9%Lake Charles, LA: rent 7.7%, nominal income 30.3%, gap -22.5%FlorenceBarnstable TownTorringtonBinghamtonHinesvilleACS nominal household-income change →Zillow rent change →
Both endpoints are printed in the table. ACS five-year estimates summarize survey periods; neither axis is inflation-adjusted or renter-specific.
Decision table

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

292 total rows Download all rows
Largest 2019–2024 gaps between Zillow asking-rent change and nominal ACS household-income change
Gap rankMetroRent 2019Rent 2024Rent changeIncome 2019Income 2024Income changeGapOpen
1Florence, SCrent outpaced income$656$1,21685.4%$44k$54k23.4%62.0%Open explorer
2Barnstable Town, MArent outpaced income$1,385$2,55384.3%$74k$95k28.1%56.2%Open explorer
3Torrington, CTrent outpaced income$1,049$1,76768.4%$80k$94k17.1%51.4%Open explorer
4Binghamton, NYrent outpaced income$748$1,19659.9%$54k$65k19.0%40.9%Open explorer
5Hinesville, GArent outpaced income$1,025$1,64160.1%$50k$62k23.0%37.1%Open explorer
6Bloomington, ILrent outpaced income$816$1,26454.9%$68k$80k18.1%36.8%Open explorer
7Norwich, CTrent outpaced income$1,190$1,82553.4%$73k$87k17.8%35.5%Open explorer
8Heber, UTrent outpaced income$1,837$3,07867.6%$95k$127k33.9%33.7%Open explorer
9Kokomo, INrent outpaced income$609$93854.0%$52k$64k22.3%31.8%Open explorer
10Augusta, MErent outpaced income$880$1,37255.9%$55k$69k24.8%31.1%Open explorer
11Atlantic City, NJrent outpaced income$1,161$1,89663.3%$62k$82k32.2%31.1%Open explorer
12Naples, FLrent outpaced income$1,699$2,72060.1%$70k$90k29.3%30.8%Open explorer
13Johnson City, TNrent outpaced income$874$1,38758.7%$44k$58k30.0%28.7%Open explorer
14Knoxville, TNrent outpaced income$1,061$1,70961.1%$55k$72k32.6%28.5%Open explorer
15State College, PArent outpaced income$1,080$1,63651.5%$60k$74k23.0%28.5%Open explorer
16Lafayette, INrent outpaced income$926$1,32943.5%$53k$62k16.3%27.2%Open explorer
17Lawton, OKrent outpaced income$709$1,01543.2%$52k$61k16.5%26.7%Open explorer
18South Bend, INrent outpaced income$793$1,21052.6%$53k$67k26.1%26.5%Open explorer
19Sebastian, FLrent outpaced income$1,308$2,10260.7%$55k$73k34.3%26.4%Open explorer
20Fayetteville, NCrent outpaced income$897$1,38053.8%$48k$62k27.5%26.4%Open explorer
21Roanoke, VArent outpaced income$869$1,28547.9%$57k$69k21.5%26.4%Open explorer
22East Stroudsburg, PArent outpaced income$1,111$1,73956.5%$64k$84k30.7%25.8%Open explorer
23Youngstown, OHrent outpaced income$650$94545.4%$47k$57k19.7%25.6%Open explorer
24Key West, FLrent outpaced income$2,156$3,25150.8%$70k$88k25.3%25.5%Open explorer

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.

Include every current RentMarker metro with direct Zillow ZORI annual averages for 2019 and 2024 plus direct ACS five-year median household income estimates for the 2019 and 2024 vintages. Rank by rent change minus nominal income change, highest first.

Methodology version: v10

Method

  1. Cumulative rent change divides the 2024 Zillow ZORI annual average by its 2019 annual average and subtracts one.
  2. Cumulative nominal income change divides the ACS 2024 five-year median household income estimate by the ACS 2019 five-year estimate and subtracts one.
  3. Growth gap subtracts income change from rent change; it is a descriptive percentage-point difference, not a renter-specific budget change.

Counter-signals

  • Median household income covers all households, not only renters or recent movers.
  • A metro with income keeping pace can still have a high current rent burden or unequal gains across households.
  • Supply, jobs, migration and unit mix can move differently from this two-endpoint comparison.

Limitations

  • ACS five-year estimates summarize multi-year survey periods and are not synchronized annual income observations.
  • Both changes are nominal; inflation is not removed and the result is not real purchasing-power growth.
  • ZORI is a market asking-rent index, not the rent paid by the same households represented in ACS.
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 rent and income 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.

acs income historyCensus ACS 5-year — historical household incomeACS 2019 and 2024 5-year · retrieved 2026-08-02cbsa delineationOMB/BLS delineation — metro geographyOMB July 2023 delineation · retrieved 2026-07-30zillow zoriZillow ZORI — metro market rentsMetro_zori_uc_sfrcondomfr_sm_sa_month.csv · retrieved 2026-07-26