- US single-family rents rose 0.4% in July from June and 1.8% from a year earlier, according to Cotality.
- Higher-priced rentals gained 2.6% annually, while lower-priced homes rose just 0.6%.
- Chicago led 10 major metros with 5% annual rent growth, while four of the 50 largest markets posted declines, all in Florida.
Single-family rents regained some monthly momentum in July, but the improvement was concentrated at the top of the market. GlobeSt.com reports in its latest review of Cotality’s rent index that rents rose 0.4% from June and 1.8% from July 2025. Annual growth remained below the 2.3% pace recorded a year earlier and below historical norms.
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Premium Tier Pulls Ahead
Higher-priced rentals increased 2.6% annually, versus 0.6% for lower-priced homes. Cotality defines the lower tier as no more than 75% of the regional median and the higher tier as at least 125%. Senior principal economist Molly Boesel said the divergence should be viewed in a longer-term context.
The Details
Over the past five years, lower-priced rents increased 26%, slightly above the 24% gain for higher-priced rentals. That suggests recent high-end strength may be catch-up. Detached rentals rose 1.9% annually, while attached homes increased 1.7%.
Metro Growth Splits
Chicago led the 10 highlighted metros with 5% annual growth. Detroit followed at 3.7%, Philadelphia at 3.5%, New York at 3.3%, and Miami at 1.2%. Broader single-family rent growth was weakest in the South. Houston rose 0.2%, while Dallas and Washington, D.C., each gained 0.6%. Four of the 50 largest markets declined, all in Florida.
Why It Matters
The widening gap between high- and lower-priced rentals shows that single-family rent growth remains uneven across price points. Lower-tier rents have still increased more over the past five years, suggesting the recent premium-tier strength may partly reflect catch-up. At the same time, Florida’s concentration of declining markets highlights how local conditions continue to shape rent performance even as national growth improves.
