Single‑family rent growth continued to decelerate in early 2026, but even with softer annual increases, many renters remain squeezed by historically high rents.
According to the latest Single‑Family Rent Index from Cotality, single‑family rents increased just 1.3% year over year in January 2026, a notable slowdown from the 2.5% annual gain recorded between January 2024 and January 2025 and well below the long‑term average of roughly 3.4%.
The trend reflects a broad cooling across the rental landscape. Nearly three-quarters of metropolitan areas saw rent growth weaken compared to a year ago, while 38% actually registered outright year‑over‑year declines in single‑family rents. Florida markets were particularly soft, accounting for about 40% of the metros with falling rents.
Among major cities, Chicago led the pack with a 4.6% increase in single‑family rents, followed by Philadelphia at 3.5%, New York at 3.4%, Detroit at 3.3%, and Washington, D.C., at 1.8%. On the flip side, Miami was down 1.3%, Dallas slid 1%, and Houston dipped 0.2% on a year‑over‑year basis.
Even markets with modest growth, however, remain far more expensive than in previous years. Cotality notes that, since 2020, national single‑family rents have climbed by roughly 32%, adding approximately $600 per month to household costs. In places like Miami, cumulative increases have reached 51% (about $900 per month) over that period, underscoring how price levels have outpaced incomes in many communities.
High‑priced properties still saw above‑average gains (+2.4% year‑over‑year), although that was down from 2.9% a year earlier. Conversely, low‑priced rentals barely budged, growing just 0.1% in January 2026, down sharply from a 2.4% gain a year ago. Detached and attached rental types each logged about 1% growth.
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