Here are the top 5 cities in the first quarter of 2025 that are getting the most online engagement on RentCafe.com, according to available data for the full first quarter of 2025.
The report tracks renters’ engagement with listings on RentCafe.com in the top 150 U.S. cities, to provide fresh insights into renter preferences and market dynamics.
Here are the top 5 cities for rental activity
No. 1 – Washington, D.C.
This is the top spot for renter engagement. Even with a 7% drop in page views, the city’s popularity is fueled by an 18% increase in favorited listings. With saved searches down 13%, renters interested in apartments in The Nation’s Capital are clearly making quicker choices.
No. 2 – Cincinnati
The Queen City climbs to No. 2 this quarter, up nine spots from last year. With a 37% boost in favorited listings and a 36% increase in available rentals, renters have more options to choose from, allowing them to take their time in finding the right place in the city.
No. 3 – Kansas City
Kansas City surged 12 spots to earn the third place in the rankings. This rise is mostly due to a 5% increase in online traffic, amid a 4% drop in availability and a 9% decrease in saved searches. This suggests that apartment seekers may be making faster decisions on apartments they like.
No. 4 – Atlanta
While apartment listings in Atlanta continue to have strong online engagement, renters are spending more time weighing their options before committing to a lease. This slower decision-making likely explains the drop in favorited listings and saved searches.
No. 5 – Chicago
In the Windy City, the combination of a 23% drop in saved searches and a 3% decrease in available listings points to a trend where renters are moving increasingly quickly to secure apartments in the city to avoid losing out.
Looking farther down the list the South is most in-demand region, claiming half of the top 30.
The South dominates the rankings this quarter, boasting 15 entries in the elite top 30 most sought-after cities. The Midwest is next with 10 entries, followed by the West with four. The Northeast lags noticeably behind with only one city represented in the rankings.
Interestingly, though, the picture shifts within the top 10, where the Midwest leads with seven cities compared to three from the South.