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Median Rent by State, 2010 to 2025

California's median gross rent reached $2,160 a month in 2025, topping Hawaii at $2,009 and Massachusetts at $1,962.

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What the data shows

  • In 2025, California ranks #1 with $2,160, ahead of Hawaii ($2,009) and Massachusetts ($1,962).
  • Back in 2010, Hawaii was #1 with $1,291.
  • The top spot changed hands once: California in 2022.
  • Biggest climber: Washington, from #10 in 2010 to #5 in 2025.
  • California grew 1.9× between 2010 and 2025.

About this chart

California has had the highest median rent of any state since 2022, reaching $2,160 a month in 2025. Hawaii held the top spot every year from 2010 before that and is still second at $2,009. Massachusetts ($1,962), New Jersey ($1,885) and Washington ($1,873) follow. California's median rose from $1,163 in 2010, while Hawaii's rose from $1,291. West Virginia had the lowest 2025 figure among states, at $921.

The numbers are the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 1-year estimates of median gross rent. That is the median, not the average, for renter-occupied units paying cash rent, and it includes utilities. Values are nominal dollars per month, not adjusted for inflation. Standard 1-year estimates were not released for 2020 because of the pandemic, so that year is missing. DC is excluded.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, Table B25064 (Median Gross Rent), state level, ACS 2010-2019 and 2021-2025, retrieved via the data.census.gov table API. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Median (not average) gross rent for renter-occupied units paying cash rent, including utilities, nominal dollars per month. Zillow publishes ZORI only for metros/counties/cities, not states, so ACS was used. The 2020 ACS 1-year standard estimates were not released (COVID), so 2020 is omitted; DC is excluded. Each value is the survey-year (calendar-year) estimate. Selection: 12 highest states in 2025 plus any state that had the highest rent in any year.

Median Rent by State, ACS median gross rent, US$ per month, 2010-2025, 2010–2025
DateCaliforniaHawaiiMassachusettsNew JerseyWashingtonFloridaColoradoMarylandNew HampshireVirginiaNew YorkArizona
2010$1,163$1,291$1,009$1,114$908$947$863$1,131$951$1,019$1,020$844
2011$1,174$1,308$1,034$1,135$930$949$900$1,153$939$1,062$1,058$850
2012$1,200$1,379$1,036$1,148$954$954$934$1,170$967$1,068$1,079$888
2013$1,224$1,414$1,077$1,171$989$972$971$1,210$995$1,086$1,109$890
2014$1,268$1,448$1,107$1,202$1,032$1,003$1,020$1,242$994$1,116$1,148$916
2015$1,311$1,500$1,164$1,214$1,080$1,046$1,111$1,278$1,017$1,144$1,173$933
2016$1,375$1,483$1,179$1,244$1,135$1,086$1,171$1,314$1,026$1,159$1,194$976
2017$1,447$1,573$1,208$1,284$1,216$1,128$1,240$1,337$1,072$1,179$1,226$1,020
2018$1,520$1,613$1,295$1,336$1,316$1,182$1,289$1,371$1,090$1,215$1,274$1,036
2019$1,614$1,651$1,360$1,376$1,359$1,238$1,369$1,401$1,147$1,254$1,309$1,101
2021$1,750$1,774$1,487$1,457$1,484$1,348$1,491$1,473$1,263$1,331$1,409$1,253
2022$1,870$1,813$1,634$1,555$1,630$1,525$1,646$1,550$1,396$1,441$1,499$1,450
2023$1,992$1,940$1,757$1,667$1,731$1,719$1,771$1,651$1,517$1,567$1,561$1,608
2024$2,104$1,942$1,848$1,800$1,824$1,812$1,822$1,721$1,558$1,646$1,634$1,672
2025$2,160$2,009$1,962$1,885$1,873$1,866$1,839$1,822$1,742$1,734$1,704$1,698

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Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent by state?

California has the highest median gross rent at $2,160 a month in 2025, followed by Hawaii ($2,009) and Massachusetts ($1,962). Among states, West Virginia has the lowest at $921. These are Census Bureau medians, not averages.

Which state has the highest rent?

California, at a median of $2,160 a month in 2025. It overtook Hawaii in 2022, after Hawaii led every year from 2010 through 2021 in this data.

Why is 2020 missing from the rent data?

The Census Bureau did not release standard American Community Survey 1-year estimates for 2020 because of pandemic-related data problems. The chart skips from 2019 to 2021.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, Table B25064 (Median Gross Rent), state level, ACS 2010-2019 and 2021-2025, retrieved via the data.census.gov table API. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Median (not average) gross rent for renter-occupied units paying cash rent, including utilities, nominal dollars per month. Zillow publishes ZORI only for metros/counties/cities, not states, so ACS was used. The 2020 ACS 1-year standard estimates were not released (COVID), so 2020 is omitted; DC is excluded. Each value is the survey-year (calendar-year) estimate. Selection: 12 highest states in 2025 plus any state that had the highest rent in any year. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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