Apartments.com Rent Report for July 2025: San Francisco and Orange County Stand Out in the West Coast Market
Key Takeaways
- The national average rent was $1,637 per month, an increase of 0.9% since this time last year.
- While the overall vacancy rate held steady, the vacancy rate for studio apartments is expected to drop by the end of September.
- The West Coast saw an overall rent decrease, but rent in Orange County and San Francisco increased due to a lack of land for development and a boom in the tech industry, respectively.
In July, the national average rent was $1,637 per month for a one-bedroom and $1,898 per month for a two-bedroom.
The overall vacancy rate remains at 8.1%, reflecting the annual cooling off of a hot summer market. While vacancy rates for one-, two-, and three-bedrooms are forecasted to hold steady for the rest of the year, the vacancy rate for studio apartments is expected to drop from 8.6% to 6.4% by the end of September as rent prices inch upward.
What’s Happening in California?
Despite the West Coast seeing an overall rent decrease in July, San Francisco and Orange County had some of the biggest month-over-month rent increases—both 0.4%—according to Apartments.com data. While this percentage seems small, in San Francisco that was an increase from $3,048 to $3,060 over just 30 days.
Orange County’s increase comes from a lack of land. The county is bordered by Los Angeles to the north, state parks to the east and the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, limiting the space available for development. The inability to meet rising demand is driving prices upward.
San Francisco’s rent increase comes from a thriving job market. Return-to-office mandates from major employers like Uber and Google and the rise of AI tech companies like OpenAI have brought employees back to San Francisco. This has gotten it the number five spot on the hottest rental markets in 2025.
July 2025 Rent Increases by City
Brookline, MA, continued its streak with a 7.4% rent increase since last year. Average rent in Brookline is now $2,815 per month.
Here are the cities with the biggest rent increases in July:
- Brookline, MA: +7.4%
- Chicago, IL: +5.4%
- Brooklyn, NY: +4.3%
- Seattle, WA: +4.1%
- Columbus, OH: +4%
July 2025 Rent Decreases by City
Cape Coral, Sarasota, Naples, and Fort Myers all maintained their positions in the top five biggest rent decreases in July, but Colorado Springs bumped Denver out of the ranking for the first time since April. The average rent in Colorado Springs is now $1,317 per month.
Here are the cities with the biggest rent decreases in July:
- Cape Coral, FL: -7%
- Sarasota, FL: -3.9%
- Naples, FL: -3.5%
- Colorado Springs, CO: -1.3%
- Fort Myers, FL: -1.3%
Current Rent Prices Across the US
|
City |
Current Average Rent |
Last Month’s Average Rent |
Year-Over-Year Difference |
|
$2,391 |
$2,406 |
+1.7% |
|
|
$1,631 |
$1,629 |
+1.3% |
|
|
$1,437 |
$1,435 |
-1.8% |
|
|
$3,513 |
$3,530 |
+1.9% |
|
|
$1,639 |
$1,636 |
+1% |
|
|
$2,906 |
$2,897 |
+1.4% |
|
|
$1,810 |
$1,816 |
+0.9% |
|
|
$1,485 |
$1,489 |
-0.6% |
|
|
$1,963 |
$1,964 |
+5.1% |
|
|
$1,115 |
$1,112 |
+2.1% |
|
|
$1,317 |
$1,318 |
-3.1% |
|
|
$1,163 |
$1,166 |
+2.1% |
|
|
$1,417 |
$1,419 |
+0.1% |
|
|
$1,670 |
$1,672 |
-1.6% |
|
|
$2,240 |
$2,237 |
+0.9% |
|
|
$1,284 |
$1,295 |
+0.6% |
|
|
$3,772 |
$3,761 |
+2.3% |
|
|
$1,706 |
$1,711 |
+1.7% |
|
|
$1,197 |
$1,200 |
-0.4% |
|
|
$1,125 |
$1,128 |
+2.2% |
|
|
$2,937 |
$2,892 |
+0.3% |
|
|
$1,310 |
$1,309 |
-0.5% |
|
|
$3,221 |
$3,223 |
+2.1% |
|
|
$1,199 |
$1,190 |
+1.8% |
|
|
$1,287 |
$1,302 |
-1.1% |
|
|
$1,800 |
$1,795 |
+0.1% |
|
|
$2,189 |
$2,178 |
+0.5% |
|
|
$1,463 |
$1,465 |
+2.1% |
|
|
$2,193 |
$2,181 |
+1.9% |
|
|
$1,185 |
$1,180 |
+1.8% |
|
|
$1,391 |
$1,393 |
+2.8% |
|
|
$1,706 |
$1,713 |
+0.6% |
|
|
$4,027 |
$4,022 |
+2.7% |
|
|
$1,587 |
$1,595 |
+0.1% |
|
|
$1,751 |
$1,749 |
+1.6% |
|
|
$1,322 |
$1,330 |
-2.7% |
|
|
$1,383 |
$1,385 |
+3% |
|
|
$1,535 |
$1,535 |
+0.8% |
|
|
$3,453 |
$3,451 |
+2.3% |
|
|
$1,401 |
$1,408 |
+1% |
|
|
$1,422 |
$1,414 |
+2.8% |
|
|
$1,581 |
$1,580 |
+0.5% |
|
|
$1,124 |
$1,120 |
+2% |
|
|
$1,102 |
$1,108 |
-1.1% |
|
|
$2,363 |
$2,353 |
+0% |
|
|
$3,057 |
$3,031 |
+5% |
|
|
$2,680 |
$2,673 |
+3.3% |
|
|
$2,138 |
$2,132 |
+3.5% |
|
|
$1,661 |
$1,655 |
+1.9% |
|
|
$2,305 |
$2,310 |
+0% |
How Current Rent Prices Impact Renters
Rent prices are always changing due to fluctuating demand, so it’s important to keep up with market trends when you’re looking to move so you get the best deal. You’ll generally find the best prices in the fall and winter since summer is a popular time to move, but other factors like the local job market can influence demand for rentals.
Need help comparing cities? Our Cost of Living Calculator makes it easy. You can also compare the rent prices from this report to those from June and May to determine the overall trend and visit the U.S. Rent Trends page to view the most current rent prices available across the U.S.
Methodology:
The rent data in this report is sourced from CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. CoStar group is the leading authority in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, trusted by real estate professionals for more than 37 years. By combining this data with Apartments.com internal data and public record, we’re able to deliver the most up-to-date rental information available.
To determine overall rent trends, we evaluate rent prices from more than 2,400 cities across the nation, including the top 80 national markets. This analysis includes year-over-year and month-over-month rent changes to provide a comprehensive view of market dynamics. This report covers a diverse range of property types to ensure a holistic view of the rental market.
FAQs
What is the average rent in the US right now?
As of July 2025, the average rent in the US is $1,637 per month, which is an increase of 0.9% over last year.
Which states had the largest rent increases in July 2025?
The states with the largest rent increases in July 2025 are North Dakota, Illinois, and Rhode Island. North Dakota saw an increase of 4%, Illinois’ rent increased by 3.9% and Rhode Island’s rent increased by 3.6%.
Which states have the cheapest rent right now?
The states with the lowest rent prices are Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Arkansas. Oklahoma has the lowest overall rent price in the U.S. at $905 per month.
Are rent prices rising or falling in the US?
Rent prices in the US are rising, averaging 0.9% more than last year.
