Best cities for rental investing
Ranked by gross rent yield, annual rent divided by home value, computed from public Census and county data. No pay-to-play, no sponsored placements: just the math, with every figure labeled and sourced on its city page.
Methodology
Rankings are computed from public data: gross rent yield = (median monthly rent × 12) ÷ median home value. Home values and rents come from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey figures and county property appraiser / tax collector sources compiled on each city page, every figure is labeled with its geography (city, county, or metro) and linked to its source there. Where a small city has no published figure, the county or metro figure is used and labeled as such.
Gross yield is a screening metric, not a return: it excludes property taxes, insurance, vacancy, maintenance, management, and financing costs. Markets move; figures are updated as new public data is published. This is educational information, not investment advice.
National top 25 by gross rent yield
| # | City | Median home value | Median rent | Gross rent yield | Data geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | augusta, Georgia | $178,400 | $1,142/mo | 7.68% | Augusta (consolidated government, balance) |
| 2 | corpus christi, Texas | $210,400 | $1,292/mo | 7.37% | City of Corpus Christi |
| 3 | macon, Georgia | $174,500 | $1,066/mo | 7.33% | Macon-Bibb County (consolidated) |
| 4 | garland, Texas | $270,800 | $1,641/mo | 7.27% | City of Garland |
| 5 | el paso, Texas | $184,500 | $1,073/mo | 6.98% | City of El Paso |
| 6 | columbus, Georgia | $193,900 | $1,106/mo | 6.84% | City of Columbus |
| 7 | palm bay, Florida | $283,200 | $1,601/mo | 6.78% | City of Palm Bay |
| 8 | san antonio, Texas | $235,700 | $1,324/mo | 6.74% | City of San Antonio |
| 9 | lakeland, Florida | $249,400 | $1,395/mo | 6.71% | City of Lakeland |
| 10 | lubbock, Texas | $212,400 | $1,182/mo | 6.68% | City of Lubbock |
| 11 | savannah, Georgia | $248,900 | $1,382/mo | 6.66% | City of Savannah |
| 12 | kissimmee, Florida | $304,400 | $1,647/mo | 6.49% | City of Kissimmee |
| 13 | waco, Texas | $221,700 | $1,165/mo | 6.31% | City of Waco |
| 14 | port st lucie, Florida | $369,200 | $1,937/mo | 6.30% | City of Port St. Lucie |
| 15 | gainesville, Florida | $247,500 | $1,296/mo | 6.28% | City of Gainesville |
| 16 | pearland, Texas | $356,300 | $1,860/mo | 6.26% | City of Pearland |
| 17 | irving, Texas | $315,600 | $1,619/mo | 6.16% | City of Irving |
| 18 | jacksonville, Florida | $293,700 | $1,465/mo | 5.99% | City of Jacksonville |
| 19 | fort worth, Texas | $303,000 | $1,509/mo | 5.98% | City of Fort Worth |
| 20 | cape coral, Florida | $373,500 | $1,858/mo | 5.97% | City of Cape Coral |
| 21 | houston, Texas | $277,800 | $1,361/mo | 5.88% | City of Houston |
| 22 | arlington, Texas | $304,700 | $1,470/mo | 5.79% | City of Arlington |
| 23 | delray beach, Florida | $420,300 | $1,961/mo | 5.60% | City of Delray Beach |
| 24 | pembroke pines, Florida | $439,500 | $2,046/mo | 5.59% | City of Pembroke Pines |
| 25 | dallas, Texas | $320,700 | $1,472/mo | 5.51% | City of Dallas |
Rankings by state
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