These states are where rent has spiked the most

New York Post - May 4th, 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a sharp increase in rental prices across the United States, with Hawaii and California leading as the most expensive states. According to Rentec Direct's report, Hawaii's median rent is $2,132, and California's is $2,101. Arizona experienced an 84% surge in rental prices, with median rents rising by $532 annually to reach $1,641. Population growth in states like Arizona, Tennessee, and New Mexico, driven by factors such as retirement migration and job market strength, has intensified housing competition, leading to higher rents. Despite this trend, some states like New York and Louisiana have seen stabilization or even decreases in rents.

The report highlights the implications of rapid rent increases in states lacking rent-control policies. States experiencing population booms and limited housing supply are seeing the most significant rent hikes. Experts suggest that while inflation and interest rates may slow rent growth, supply chain issues could limit new constructions, putting further pressure on rental markets. Policies like rent control aim to balance affordability and availability, but they can also have the unintended consequence of discouraging investment and driving up rents in unregulated areas. The future of housing will depend on finding equilibrium in these dynamics to ensure stable housing costs for tenants and sustainable returns for landlords.

California Hawaii Arizona Covid 19 Pandemic Housing Supply Population Growth Rent Control Rental Prices Rentec Direct

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.2

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of rental price trends across the United States, supported by data from a credible source, Rentec Direct. It effectively highlights key states experiencing significant rent increases and decreases, offering insights into the factors driving these changes. However, the article could improve its accuracy by providing more detailed verification of specific numerical claims and expanding on the methodology used to gather data. While it presents a balanced view of the rental market, additional perspectives on states with stable or decreasing rents could enhance its comprehensiveness. The article's relevance and timeliness are strong, given the ongoing discussions about housing affordability and economic stability. Overall, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding current rental trends, but it could benefit from additional data verification and a broader range of perspectives.

Accuracy

The story provides a detailed account of rental price trends across the United States, citing specific figures and sources. However, while the article accurately identifies Hawaii and California as having the highest median rents, exact figures for other states like Arizona's 84% increase lack direct verification from available data. Similarly, claims about specific dollar increases in states like Delaware and Maryland are not explicitly confirmed by the sources referenced in the article. The article's general trends align with broader data insights, but some specific numerical claims require further verification.

Balance

The article presents a range of perspectives on the factors influencing rent increases, such as population growth and lack of rent control. However, it primarily focuses on states experiencing significant rent hikes, with less emphasis on states with decreasing or stable rents. While it mentions some states with rent decreases, the article could benefit from a more balanced exploration of these trends to provide a fuller picture of the national rental market.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear language to convey complex information about rental trends. It effectively breaks down data into understandable segments, such as state-specific rent figures and percentage increases. The use of direct quotes from experts enhances clarity by providing authoritative insights. However, the article could improve by clearly distinguishing between confirmed data and claims that require further verification.

Source quality

The article relies on data from Rentec Direct, a property management software company, which is a credible source for rental market analysis. The inclusion of expert commentary from Kaycee Miller, a real estate investor, adds authority to the claims made. However, the article would benefit from additional sources or corroborating data to enhance the reliability of its findings, especially for specific numerical claims.

Transparency

The article is transparent in its use of data from Rentec Direct and provides some context for its claims, such as population growth and economic factors. However, it lacks detailed explanations of the methodology used to obtain the data, which would help readers understand the basis for the claims. More information on how the data was collected and analyzed would improve transparency.