Cost to Own
United StatesRankings Counties ranked 100 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year

Ranked from ACS 2023 5-Year

Counties Where Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning in America

The widest gaps between median rent and the full monthly cost of owning the median home. A large gap does not automatically mean renting is the better decision, because rent buys no equity and is not fixed for thirty years, but it does show where the market prices ownership at a steep premium.

Top 100

#CountyState Monthly saved by rentingMedian rentMonthly to own
1 Teton County WY $7,592$1,758$9,350
2 San Mateo County CA $7,398$2,893$10,291
3 San Francisco County CA $7,194$2,419$9,613
4 Nantucket County MA $7,150$2,070$9,220
5 Marin County CA $7,136$2,584$9,720
6 Santa Clara County CA $6,842$2,814$9,656
7 Dukes County MA $6,296$1,371$7,667
8 New York County NY $5,908$2,132$8,040
9 Pitkin County CO $5,790$1,880$7,670
10 Alameda County CA $5,202$2,318$7,520
11 Falls Church city VA $5,109$2,205$7,314
12 Santa Cruz County CA $4,943$2,172$7,115
13 Summit County UT $4,632$1,969$6,601
14 Kings County NY $4,574$1,784$6,358
15 Orange County CA $4,134$2,352$6,486
16 Maui County HI $4,037$1,863$5,900
17 Honolulu County HI $4,020$2,054$6,074
18 Arlington County VA $3,978$2,275$6,253
19 Summit County CO $3,911$1,851$5,762
20 Kauai County HI $3,874$1,810$5,684
21 Napa County CA $3,854$2,141$5,995
22 Los Angeles County CA $3,728$1,893$5,621
23 Contra Costa County CA $3,713$2,322$6,035
24 King County WA $3,699$2,035$5,734
25 San Luis Obispo County CA $3,688$1,899$5,587
26 San Juan County WA $3,582$1,413$4,995
27 Eagle County CO $3,563$2,032$5,595
28 San Benito County CA $3,558$1,922$5,480
29 San Diego County CA $3,527$2,154$5,681
30 Sonoma County CA $3,513$2,093$5,606
31 Monroe County FL $3,336$1,959$5,295
32 Routt County CO $3,313$1,845$5,158
33 Ventura County CA $3,272$2,248$5,520
34 Blaine County ID $3,270$1,217$4,487
35 Queens County NY $3,264$1,915$5,179
36 Westchester County NY $3,249$1,876$5,125
37 Richmond County NY $3,233$1,689$4,922
38 Santa Barbara County CA $3,232$2,050$5,282
39 Monterey County CA $3,202$1,995$5,197
40 Elbert County CO $3,189$1,436$4,625
41 District of Columbia DC $3,180$1,900$5,080
42 Ouray County CO $3,168$1,398$4,566
43 Boulder County CO $3,111$1,893$5,004
44 Alexandria city VA $3,103$2,031$5,134
45 Middlesex County MA $3,088$2,126$5,214
46 Nassau County NY $3,056$2,195$5,251
47 El Dorado County CA $3,043$1,626$4,669
48 Valley County ID $3,014$1,011$4,025
49 San Miguel County CO $3,014$1,173$4,187
50 Western Connecticut Planning Region CT $2,992$2,060$5,052
51 Wasatch County UT $2,985$1,905$4,890
52 Fairfax County VA $2,938$2,230$5,168
53 Bergen County NJ $2,937$1,863$4,800
54 Gunnison County CO $2,904$1,191$4,095
55 Norfolk County MA $2,892$2,072$4,964
56 Placer County CA $2,881$1,991$4,872
57 Suffolk County MA $2,878$2,069$4,947
58 Monmouth County NJ $2,863$1,771$4,634
59 Williamson County TN $2,852$1,895$4,747
60 Fairfax city VA $2,851$2,122$4,973
61 Rockland County NY $2,840$1,826$4,666
62 Teton County ID $2,831$1,196$4,027
63 Essex County MA $2,816$1,673$4,489
64 Nevada County CA $2,799$1,635$4,434
65 Loudoun County VA $2,785$2,317$5,102
66 Clear Creek County CO $2,751$1,230$3,981
67 Gallatin County MT $2,750$1,574$4,324
68 Essex County NJ $2,727$1,459$4,186
69 Morris County NJ $2,715$1,860$4,575
70 Snohomish County WA $2,710$1,866$4,576
71 Newport County RI $2,705$1,652$4,357
72 Barnstable County MA $2,661$1,596$4,257
73 Douglas County CO $2,649$2,095$4,744
74 Morgan County UT $2,644$1,493$4,137
75 Yolo County CA $2,630$1,757$4,387
76 Hood River County OR $2,608$1,381$3,989
77 Chaffee County CO $2,587$1,514$4,101
78 Bronx County NY $2,546$1,436$3,982
79 Bristol County RI $2,518$1,348$3,866
80 Montgomery County MD $2,508$2,030$4,538
81 Hunterdon County NJ $2,506$1,707$4,213
82 Deschutes County OR $2,493$1,674$4,167
83 Union County NJ $2,487$1,664$4,151
84 Douglas County NV $2,478$1,545$4,023
85 Clackamas County OR $2,478$1,693$4,171
86 Clarke County VA $2,448$1,360$3,808
87 Somerset County NJ $2,448$1,921$4,369
88 Washington County RI $2,447$1,303$3,750
89 Jefferson County CO $2,446$1,792$4,238
90 Broomfield County CO $2,420$2,074$4,494
91 Hudson County NJ $2,414$1,811$4,225
92 Travis County TX $2,406$1,669$4,075
93 Plymouth County MA $2,398$1,655$4,053
94 Fauquier County VA $2,396$1,561$3,957
95 Howard County MD $2,383$2,038$4,421
96 Kendall County TX $2,381$1,576$3,957
97 La Plata County CO $2,365$1,409$3,774
98 Skamania County WA $2,354$1,024$3,378
99 Whatcom County WA $2,338$1,465$3,803
100 Denver County CO $2,335$1,770$4,105

Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 6.66%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.

Other rankings

All 15 rankings