Small City Rent: 25 Most Affordable Towns for Renters

Crystal Mayer

3 June 2024 at 7:00 am·4-min read

For renters, finding the perfect apartment can be a challenge, whether it’s in a big city or a smaller metro area. The cost of rent has skyrocketed in the last few years, and trying to locate an affordable place that still has plenty of opportunity can be downright depressing.

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Whether you are looking for a thriving food or music scene, or just don’t want to break the bank to experience the art and culture of your town’s rich history, there are still options for affordable places to live across the United States.

GOBankingRates has done some research to take the guesswork out of it for you, compiling data to find the top small cities with cheap rent across the country. From college towns near state universities to riverside gems steeped in history, there are several not-too-crowded locations with solid economies that come in well below the national average.

Here are 25 of your best options for monthly rent under $1,000, ranked from lowest to highest.

Also see how to lower your rent without moving.

1. Saint James, Missouri

Population: 3,942
Median household income: $50,730
Average cost of rent: $695

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2. Wahpeton, North Dakota

Population: 7,983
Median household income: $51,417
Average cost of rent: $720

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3. Fairfield, Iowa

Population: 9,474
Median household income: $44,277
Average cost of rent: $725

4. Clarion, Pennsylvania

Population: 4,205
Median household income: $43,178
Average cost of rent: $750

5. Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Population: 8,422
Median household income: $42,930
Average cost of rent: $756

6. Winona Lake, Indiana

Population: 5,077
Median household income: $77,305
Average cost of rent: $795

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7. Ogden, Kansas

Population: 1,529
Median household income: $57,392
Average cost of rent: $820

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8. Peoria Heights, Illinois

Population: 5,890
Median household income: $59,286
Average cost of rent: $845

9. Knob Noster, Missouri

Population: 2,793
Median household income: $49,640
Average cost of rent: $858

10. Millvale, Pennsylvania

Population: 3,377
Median household income: $59,250
Average cost of rent: $885

AntonioGuillem / Getty Images/iStockphoto

11. Waynesville, Missouri

Population: 5,372
Median household income: $47,193
Average cost of rent: $889

12. Highland Heights, Kentucky

Population: 6,566
Median household income: $44,910
Average cost of rent: $889

13. Perry, Iowa

Population: 7,875
Median household income: $57,276
Average cost of rent: $920

14. Calumet Park, Illinois

Population: 7,193
Median household income: $55,717
Average cost of rent: $925

15. Saint Robert, Missouri

Population: 5,242
Median household income: $52,627
Average cost of rent: $929

16. Hiawatha, Iowa

Population: 7,179
Median household income: $65,610
Average cost of rent: $933

17. Buena Vista, Virginia

Population: 6,639
Median household income: $48,783
Average cost of rent: $938

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18. DuBois, Pennsylvania

Population: 7,509
Median household income: $55,580
Average cost of rent: $938

19. Ambridge, Pennsylvania

Population: 6,937
Median household income: $46,059
Average cost of rent: $941

20. Lander, Wyoming

Population: 7,561
Median household income: $62,958
Average cost of rent: $950

21. Washington, North Carolina

Population: 9,759
Median household income: $42,821
Average cost of rent: $950

22. Bethalto, Illinois

Population: 9,281
Median household income: $67,569
Average cost of rent: $958

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23. Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

Population: 7,684
Median household income: $57,325
Average cost of rent: $975

24. Jefferson, Wisconsin

Population: 7,778
Median household income: $69,844
Average cost of rent: $975

25. Morehead, Kentucky

Population: 7,001
Median household income: $32,020
Average cost of rent: $977

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this gallery.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed small towns across the country to find the most affordable towns for renters. First, GOBankingRates found small towns with populations between 1,000 and 10,000. The average rental cost was found for each small town, as sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index, with the cheapest rental options kept for this study. The cheapest rental cities were sorted to show the most affordable towns for renters. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 21, 2024.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Small City Rent: 25 Most Affordable Towns for Renters

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