Americans are staying put in these 5 cities—and flocking to these 5 others

Las Vegas led the U.S. in the first quarter of the year with 70% of online rental searches originating locally, indicating residents are choosing to stay put. This trend suggests that the city offers a favorable combination of rent prices and job opportunities, according to a report from Realtor.com. Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and San Diego also showed strong local renter interest, with Houston experiencing an 11% increase in local searches between 2020 and 2026. These five markets are identified as "renter-friendly destinations" where declining rents and other favorable conditions are encouraging residents to remain. Nationally, the median rent asking price in the 50 largest metro areas decreased by 1.5% in May compared to the previous year, reaching $1,686. This marks nearly three years of declining rent prices, signaling a more competitive rental market. Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale noted that these pricing trends, combined with local search data, reveal the competitiveness of rental markets and whether demand is driven by existing residents or newcomers. The analysis of online rental searches helps determine which cities are retaining their renters due to attractive living conditions.