Although mortgage rates in the United States have been declining from their maximum of 7%, reaching 6.43% for the first week of July, the real estate sector is still going through an affordability crisis due to a lack of inventory that has skyrocketed property prices and is keeping the average buyer away from the market.

And that same affordability crisis has caused many future buyers to lean towards the rental market, which has boomed in recent years due to high demand; However, not in all states of the country you can access an attractive and economical rental.

It is estimated that in the United States approximately 46 million families live in rented homes; It is for this reason that the personal finance company WalletHub analyzed the market and determined which are the best and worst states to rent in the US in 2026.

In this regard, Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, commented that “in the best cities to rent, rent can represent only 15% of your income,” he said, also indicating that the analysis took into consideration several factors such as traffic congestion, leisure options, also analyzing price differences, mortgage payments, cost of living and job availability.

The 5 best cities to rent:

The 5 worst cities to rent:

In the case of Scottsdale, Arizona, it ranks first on the list of the best places in the country to rent, as it offers quality of life; It stands out for its “availability of jobs and ease of driving.” Additionally, Arizona has state laws that regulate bed bug infestations in rental properties, providing greater protection for Scottsdale tenants,” says Lupo.