Bismarck, North Dakota tops 2026 rent affordability ranking among 182 U.S. cities

A 2026 analysis by personal finance website WalletHub evaluated rent affordability across 182 U.S. cities, ranking them by the ratio of median annual gross rent to median annual household income. Bismarck, North Dakota, achieved the most favorable position, with residents spending only 15.29% of median income on rent. In stark contrast, Miami, Florida, ranked last, requiring 33.77% of income. The study revealed that affordability hinges on the balance between local wages and housing costs, not merely low rental prices. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, secured second place at 16.35%, followed by Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 16.48%, and Charleston, West Virginia, at 16.56%. Fargo, North Dakota, placed fifth at 16.94%, making North Dakota the only state with two cities in the top five. Cheyenne, Wyoming, ranked sixth at 17.02%, leading the Mountain West region. Juneau, Alaska, came in seventh at 17.04%, with Anchorage, Alaska, ninth at 17.30%, challenging perceptions of Alaska's high living costs. Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, rounded out the top ten at 17.34%. The research highlighted that over the past decade, U.S. rental costs surged over 50%, according to the Federal Reserve's Consumer Price Index, while wages stagnated. Cities in the Midwest and Great Plains dominated the affordable end of the spectrum, demonstrating that moderate rents combined with competitive incomes create the most sustainable conditions for renters.