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Best US rental markets for cash-flow investors (2026)

Ranked by Star Score — a 0-100 index blending gross rental yield (September 2026 Zillow data), entry prices, landlord law, equity growth, taxes, and insurance risk. Charleston leads at 86/100, with a gross yield of 9.9% on a typical home value of $147,375.

#	Market	Home value	Rent/mo	Ratio	Yield	Star Score
1	Charleston, WV	$147,375	$1,210	10	9.9%	86
2	Florence, SC	$193,284	$1,516	11	9.4%	86
3	Montgomery, AL	$212,437	$1,383	13	7.8%	85
4	Columbus, GA	$209,756	$1,353	13	7.7%	85
5	Mobile, AL	$194,638	$1,280	13	7.9%	84
6	Jackson, TN	$201,741	$1,393	12	8.3%	84
7	Huntington, WV	$166,211	$1,086	13	7.8%	82
8	Macon, GA	$196,903	$1,212	14	7.4%	82
9	Terre Haute, IN	$165,632	$977	14	7.1%	82
10	Jackson, MS	$212,335	$1,470	12	8.3%	81
11	Brownsville, TX	$204,552	$1,509	11	8.9%	81
12	El Paso, TX	$233,011	$1,521	13	7.8%	80
13	Tuscaloosa, AL	$238,644	$1,668	12	8.4%	80
14	Binghamton, NY	$203,310	$1,610	11	9.5%	80
15	Saginaw, MI	$175,095	$1,055	14	7.2%	80
16	Youngstown, OH	$175,230	$1,047	14	7.2%	79
17	Toledo, OH	$202,056	$1,264	13	7.5%	78
18	Peoria, IL	$174,845	$1,157	13	7.9%	78
19	Warner Robins, GA	$254,074	$1,505	14	7.1%	77
20	Columbia, SC	$252,979	$1,557	14	7.4%	76
21	Gulfport, MS	$224,165	$1,422	13	7.6%	76
22	Topeka, KS	$216,883	$1,250	14	6.9%	75
23	McAllen, TX	$188,971	$1,119	14	7.1%	74
24	Kingsport, TN	$242,853	$1,330	15	6.6%	74
25	Monroe, LA	$166,928	$1,180	12	8.5%	74
26	Fayetteville, NC	$253,782	$1,454	15	6.9%	73
27	Beaumont, TX	$186,305	$1,308	12	8.4%	73
28	Shreveport, LA	$183,475	$1,282	12	8.4%	73
29	Hickory, NC	$266,722	$1,595	14	7.2%	73
30	South Bend, IN	$237,622	$1,258	16	6.4%	73
31	Joplin, MO	$226,654	$1,242	15	6.6%	73
32	Pittsburgh, PA	$228,201	$1,467	13	7.7%	71
33	Augusta, GA	$250,497	$1,464	14	7.0%	71
34	Scranton, PA	$233,948	$1,362	14	7.0%	71
35	Lafayette, LA	$200,358	$1,385	12	8.3%	71
36	Fort Smith, AR	$202,649	$1,074	16	6.4%	71
37	Lake Charles, LA	$201,631	$1,358	12	8.1%	71
38	Houma, LA	$180,980	$1,302	12	8.6%	71
39	Cleveland, OH	$250,001	$1,440	14	6.9%	70
40	Lubbock, TX	$212,331	$1,330	13	7.5%	70
41	Utica, NY	$231,322	$1,424	14	7.4%	70
42	Amarillo, TX	$219,579	$1,309	14	7.2%	70
43	Wichita, KS	$222,219	$1,206	15	6.5%	69
44	Corpus Christi, TX	$221,538	$1,425	13	7.7%	69
45	Springfield, IL	$200,781	$1,207	14	7.2%	69
46	Oklahoma City, OK	$243,069	$1,384	15	6.8%	68
47	Memphis, TN	$242,102	$1,393	14	6.9%	68
48	Canton, OH	$217,652	$1,141	16	6.3%	68
49	Tulsa, OK	$251,771	$1,375	15	6.6%	67
50	Rockford, IL	$222,178	$1,299	14	7.0%	67
51	Erie, PA	$222,048	$1,126	16	6.1%	67
52	Little Rock, AR	$230,108	$1,234	16	6.4%	66
53	Akron, OH	$240,089	$1,306	15	6.5%	66
54	Syracuse, NY	$268,949	$1,627	14	7.3%	66
55	Fort Wayne, IN	$257,074	$1,266	17	5.9%	66
56	Flint, MI	$195,732	$1,041	16	6.4%	66
57	Evansville, IN	$225,370	$1,098	17	5.8%	66
58	Johnson City, TN	$279,665	$1,488	16	6.4%	66
59	Jacksonville, NC	$290,605	$1,577	15	6.5%	66
60	Spartanburg, SC	$274,802	$1,475	16	6.4%	65
61	Lafayette, IN	$283,136	$1,473	16	6.2%	65
62	Winston, NC	$277,512	$1,529	15	6.6%	64
63	Ocala, FL	$267,908	$1,593	14	7.1%	64
64	Birmingham, AL	$260,710	$1,404	15	6.5%	63
65	Greensboro, NC	$260,556	$1,406	15	6.5%	63
66	Detroit, MI	$264,316	$1,514	15	6.9%	62
67	Davenport, IA	$194,778	$1,003	16	6.2%	62
68	Champaign, IL	$239,230	$1,384	14	6.9%	62
69	Yuma, AZ	$276,761	$1,424	16	6.2%	62
70	St. Louis, MO	$273,164	$1,427	16	6.3%	61
71	Lakeland, FL	$295,502	$1,814	14	7.4%	61
72	Lansing, MI	$246,267	$1,302	16	6.3%	61
73	Indianapolis, IN	$291,634	$1,528	16	6.3%	60
74	Longview, TX	$218,198	$1,148	16	6.3%	60
75	Waco, TX	$250,105	$1,419	15	6.8%	60
76	Las Cruces, NM	$285,348	$1,472	16	6.2%	59
77	New Orleans, LA	$257,067	$1,577	14	7.4%	58
78	Cedar Rapids, IA	$246,602	$1,226	17	6.0%	58
79	Elkhart, IN	$266,456	$1,182	19	5.3%	58
80	Punta Gorda, FL	$298,912	$1,851	13	7.4%	58
81	Muskegon, MI	$255,238	$1,288	17	6.1%	58
82	Rochester, NY	$281,279	$1,532	15	6.5%	57
83	Port St. Lucie, FL	$381,493	$2,310	14	7.3%	57
84	Savannah, GA	$340,186	$1,771	16	6.2%	57
85	Duluth, MN	$263,835	$1,329	17	6.0%	57
86	Miami, FL	$476,815	$2,654	15	6.7%	56
87	Greenville, SC	$312,032	$1,566	17	6.0%	56
88	Knoxville, TN	$363,018	$1,725	18	5.7%	56
89	Baton Rouge, LA	$246,247	$1,366	15	6.7%	56
90	Lexington, KY	$324,999	$1,599	17	5.9%	56
91	Springfield, MO	$270,546	$1,251	18	5.5%	56
92	Reading, PA	$310,920	$1,551	17	6.0%	56
93	Laredo, TX	$215,255	$1,129	16	6.3%	56
94	Bowling Green, KY	$257,589	$1,215	18	5.7%	56
95	Pensacola, FL	$308,972	$1,735	15	6.7%	55
96	Roanoke, VA	$297,868	$1,400	18	5.6%	55
97	Louisville, KY	$278,562	$1,339	17	5.8%	54
98	Killeen, TX	$248,024	$1,308	16	6.3%	54
99	Gainesville, FL	$297,876	$1,641	15	6.6%	54
100	Clarksville, TN	$289,380	$1,343	18	5.6%	54
101	Tallahassee, FL	$281,169	$1,474	16	6.3%	53
102	Chicago, IL	$355,650	$2,163	14	7.3%	52
103	Virginia Beach, VA	$371,181	$1,886	16	6.1%	52
104	Allentown, PA	$363,366	$1,841	16	6.1%	52
105	Harrisburg, PA	$306,578	$1,481	17	5.8%	52
106	Lynchburg, VA	$288,388	$1,288	19	5.4%	52
107	Athens, GA	$367,438	$1,776	17	5.8%	52
108	Cincinnati, OH	$305,940	$1,522	17	6.0%	51
109	Chattanooga, TN	$318,922	$1,509	18	5.7%	51
110	Myrtle Beach, SC	$339,738	$1,722	16	6.1%	51
111	Tyler, TX	$267,833	$1,313	17	5.9%	51
112	Houston, TX	$302,832	$1,638	15	6.5%	50
113	Tampa, FL	$356,843	$1,991	15	6.7%	50
114	Trenton, NJ	$439,977	$2,523	15	6.9%	50
115	Kalamazoo, MI	$274,078	$1,287	18	5.6%	50
116	Columbia, MO	$318,695	$1,457	18	5.5%	50
117	Kansas City, MO	$324,887	$1,534	18	5.7%	49
118	Buffalo, NY	$287,359	$1,451	17	6.1%	49
119	Springfield, MA	$372,394	$1,963	16	6.3%	49
120	Palm Bay, FL	$342,339	$1,887	15	6.6%	49
121	Hagerstown, MD	$322,655	$1,614	17	6.0%	49
122	Philadelphia, PA	$386,048	$1,903	17	5.9%	48
123	San Antonio, TX	$273,806	$1,415	16	6.2%	48
124	Charleston, SC	$437,474	$2,037	18	5.6%	48
125	Racine, WI	$315,026	$1,460	18	5.6%	48
126	Dover, DE	$371,872	$1,775	17	5.7%	48
127	Atlanta, GA	$375,898	$1,843	17	5.9%	47
128	Hartford, CT	$398,703	$1,998	17	6.0%	47
129	New Haven, CT	$406,204	$2,043	17	6.0%	47
130	Deltona, FL	$330,886	$1,767	16	6.4%	47
131	Atlantic City, NJ	$383,091	$2,049	16	6.4%	47
132	Burlington, VT	$462,003	$2,592	15	6.7%	47
133	Omaha, NE	$306,318	$1,398	18	5.5%	46
134	Cape Coral, FL	$334,479	$1,827	15	6.6%	46
135	College Station, TX	$304,972	$1,504	17	5.9%	46
136	Orlando, FL	$383,302	$1,929	17	6.0%	45
137	Columbus, OH	$326,910	$1,525	18	5.6%	45
138	Huntsville, AL	$313,528	$1,387	19	5.3%	45
139	Norwich, CT	$430,914	$2,099	17	5.8%	45
140	Daphne, AL	$371,460	$1,701	18	5.5%	45
141	Grand Rapids, MI	$355,636	$1,614	18	5.4%	44
142	Gainesville, GA	$385,576	$1,701	19	5.3%	44
143	Panama City, FL	$342,980	$1,735	16	6.1%	44
144	Charlotte, NC	$381,392	$1,735	18	5.5%	43
145	North Port, FL	$403,540	$2,106	16	6.3%	43
146	York, PA	$309,136	$1,380	19	5.4%	43
147	El Centro, CA	$382,009	$1,803	18	5.7%	43
148	Bakersfield, CA	$360,210	$1,822	16	6.1%	42
149	Charlottesville, VA	$464,132	$2,040	19	5.3%	42
150	Jacksonville, FL	$350,574	$1,680	17	5.8%	41
151	Naples, FL	$552,087	$2,607	18	5.7%	41
152	Rochester, MN	$338,327	$1,590	18	5.6%	41
153	Baltimore, MD	$396,959	$1,937	17	5.9%	40
154	Tucson, AZ	$335,747	$1,488	19	5.3%	40
155	Fresno, CA	$404,052	$2,052	16	6.1%	40
156	Worcester, MA	$476,551	$2,105	19	5.3%	40
157	Anchorage, AK	$424,607	$1,890	19	5.3%	40
158	Ann Arbor, MI	$411,985	$1,917	18	5.6%	40
159	New York, NY	$730,949	$3,546	17	5.8%	39
160	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$349,800	$1,540	19	5.3%	39
161	Hilo, HI	$574,746	$2,562	19	5.3%	39
162	Torrington, CT	$424,058	$1,882	19	5.3%	39
163	Visalia, CA	$360,865	$1,734	17	5.8%	38
164	Kingston, NY	$451,632	$2,015	19	5.4%	38
165	Albany, NY	$373,057	$1,693	18	5.4%	37
166	Salisbury, MD	$423,968	$1,947	18	5.5%	37
167	Dallas, TX	$358,242	$1,659	18	5.6%	36
168	Merced, CA	$413,645	$2,059	17	6.0%	36
169	Crestview, FL	$439,733	$1,968	19	5.4%	35
170	Minneapolis, MN	$387,807	$1,736	19	5.4%	34
171	Yuba City, CA	$425,172	$2,033	17	5.7%	33
172	Stockton, CA	$519,775	$2,431	18	5.6%	30
173	Modesto, CA	$461,114	$2,068	19	5.4%	30
174	Redding, CA	$367,694	$1,652	19	5.4%	29

Reference markets (where the math stops working)

Market	Ratio	Yield	Star Score
Fayetteville, AR	19	5.2%	49
Richmond, VA	19	5.2%	44
Albuquerque, NM	20	5.1%	43
Des Moines, IA	19	5.3%	43
Lincoln, NE	20	5.1%	42
Lancaster, PA	20	4.9%	41
Hilton Head Island, SC	22	4.5%	41
Wilmington, NC	21	4.7%	40
Nashville, TN	21	4.8%	38
Milwaukee, WI	21	4.8%	38
Portland, ME	19	5.1%	38
Manchester, NH	20	5.0%	38
Billings, MT	25	4.1%	38
Providence, RI	20	5.0%	37
Durham, NC	20	4.9%	37
Appleton, WI	24	4.1%	37
St. Cloud, MN	21	4.7%	37
Las Vegas, NV	20	4.9%	36
Bridgeport, CT	20	5.0%	36
Madison, WI	21	4.8%	36
Asheville, NC	20	4.9%	36
Green Bay, WI	26	3.9%	36
Fargo, ND	25	4.0%	35
Ogden, UT	26	3.8%	34
Sioux Falls, SD	22	4.5%	34
Raleigh, NC	21	4.7%	33
Salt Lake City, UT	28	3.5%	33
Washington, DC	20	5.1%	32
Boston, MA	20	4.9%	32
Phoenix, AZ	21	4.7%	32
Boise City, ID	21	4.7%	32
Provo, UT	25	3.9%	32
St. George, UT	24	4.2%	32
Riverside, CA	19	5.2%	31
Barnstable Town, MA	24	4.1%	31
Reno, NV	23	4.4%	30
Santa Maria, CA	25	4.0%	30
Colorado Springs, CO	21	4.7%	28
Kennewick, WA	21	4.7%	28
Yakima, WA	21	4.7%	28
Medford, OR	19	5.1%	28
Urban Honolulu, HI	24	4.2%	27
Fort Collins, CO	23	4.3%	27
Olympia, WA	21	4.7%	27
San Diego, CA	26	3.8%	26
Denver, CO	24	4.1%	26
Vallejo, CA	19	5.2%	26
Eugene, OR	21	4.7%	26
Boulder, CO	27	3.7%	26
Greeley, CO	24	4.1%	26
San Luis Obispo, CA	27	3.7%	26
Bellingham, WA	26	3.9%	26
Los Angeles, CA	27	3.7%	25
Seattle, WA	27	3.7%	24
Austin, TX	22	4.6%	24
San Jose, CA	33	3.0%	24
Spokane, WA	23	4.4%	24
Bremerton, WA	24	4.3%	24
Oxnard, CA	25	4.1%	23
Salinas, CA	25	4.0%	23
Salem, OR	23	4.4%	23
Portland, OR	25	4.0%	22
Sacramento, CA	21	4.8%	22
Santa Cruz, CA	27	3.7%	22
Bend, OR	25	4.0%	22
Chico, CA	21	4.7%	21
San Francisco, CA	27	3.7%	20
Santa Rosa, CA	24	4.1%	20

Home values and rents: Zillow ZHVI / ZORI, September 2026 metro figures. Factor scores are editorial estimates on public data. Last reviewed October 2026. Not investment advice — verify locally before acting. Methodology & sources.