If you searched for a rental on Apartments.com in 2025, you were in good company; Apartments.com saw an average of 26 million monthly visitors last year. But how did your searches measure up against the majority?
With 2025 in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look at how Apartments.com users searched.
Most Popular Device: Mobile
Mobile reigns supreme in the search game, with 71% of renters apartment hunting from a mobile device and 29% searching on desktop computers.
Most Searched City: Chicago
The top five most searched cities on Apartments.com in 2025 were:
Chicago, which was the most-searched city in 2024, remained at the top spot in 2025. New York, which was in fourth place in 2024, rose to second. Dallas dethroned Atlanta for the fifth-place spot.
Most Searched Floor Plan: 1- and 2 Bedrooms (Tie)
Searches for 1- and 2-bedrooms accounted for two-thirds of searches on Apartments.com in 2025. This is slightly lower than last year, as searches for studio apartments increased by four percentage points year-over-year. As rent prices rise, renters are looking for more wallet-friendly options.
Most Searched Amenity: In-Unit Washer/Dryer
The five most searched amenities on Apartments.com in 2025 were:
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Parking
- Air conditioning
- Dishwasher
- Garage
Renters prefer function over fashion when it comes to the amenities they consider dealbreakers, and in-unit laundry is consistently at the top of the list. In just the last few months of 2025, in-unit laundry was the top searched amenity in 208 of the 210 largest rental markets in the U.S.
Most Searched Keyword: No Fees
The five most searched keywords on Apartments.com in 2025 were:
- No Fee(s)
- Water Access/Front
- Character/Style
- View(s)
- Hot Tub/Sauna/Steamroom
“No fees” was the most searched keyword in 2025. Renters don’t want surprises when it comes to pricing, and searching for rentals without fees helps eliminate the guesswork.
In addition to no fees being high on renters’ wish lists, the popularity of keywords like “views” and “hot tub” shows that renters want relaxation just as much as they want convenience. While renters more often search for functional amenities, they use keywords to look for the finer things.
Most Popular Pet: Dogs
Of the renters who searched for pet-friendly rentals on Apartments.com, 52% specified that they were specifically looking for dog-friendly rentals.
If you, like thousands of other renters, are looking for a place for you and Fido, select “Dog Friendly” or “Dog and Cat Allowed” under “Pet Policy” in the “Filters” popup window, then scroll down to the “Community Amenities” section and select “Dog Park.”
Streamline Your Search with Apartments.com
Wherever you’re looking to move in 2026, Apartments.com has the tools to help you find the perfect place. Browse thousands of listings across neighborhoods and use our customizable filters to narrow your search by price, amenities, and floor plan.
Now, it’s even easier to find your perfect place on Apartments.com. Our new AI Smart Search allows you to search by typing or speaking full sentences and applies your search criteria as filters. This halves the time it takes to find rentals that match what you need, allowing you to apartment hunt more efficiently and intuitively.
If you can think it, you can search it on Apartments.com.
2025 search data is provided by Apartments.com’s internal analytics.
