The best place to rent in America isn’t a coastal metropolis or even a large city, it’s McKinney, Texas. In RentCafe’s 2025 Best Cities for Renters Report, McKinney claimed the No. 1 spot, outranking 149 other cities thanks to its unique balance of affordability, apartment quality and overall livability.
Just 30 miles south, Dallas didn’t even crack the top 50. Despite being one of the South’s economic powerhouses, Dallas was weighed down by high living costs, smaller apartments and lower quality-of-life scores.
Why McKinney Leads the Nation
McKinney might be a smaller city, but it delivers on almost every front that matters to today’s renters. The city ranks:
- No. 4 in Housing & Cost of Living:
McKinney’s rental scene is upscale — a remarkable 83% of rentals are high-end, the second-highest share in the country. Nearly one-third of apartments were built in the past five years, giving renters access to newer, more spacious units that average 948 square feet. The cost of living sits 2.5% below the national average, making luxury living more attainable.
- No. 9 in Quality of Life:
Around 70% of McKinney’s apartments are located in desirable areas close to shops, services and local amenities. Though 46% of residents face commutes longer than half an hour, many consider the extra space and greenery worth the drive.
- No. 19 in Local Economy:
With a low unemployment rate of 3.5% and a renter income growth of 48% over the past five years, McKinney’s economic indicators are trending up. A modest 1.3% rise in job growth since 2024 suggests a steady, expanding market. About 21% of adults in the city hold a college degree.
How Other North Texas Cities Stack Up
Dallas remains a major player in the Southern economy, but it lags behind McKinney in the daily experience of renters. The city ranks:
- No. 39 in Local Economy:
Dallas performs well on entrepreneurship, ranking #23 in the South for new business applications per capita. However, renter incomes have grown by just 35% over the past five years, trailing behind McKinney’s pace.
- No. 70 in Housing & Cost of Living:
Nearly 60% of Dallas residents rent, but demand has pushed costs up. The city’s apartments average 851 square feet — almost 100 square feet smaller than McKinney’s — and the cost of living is 1.7% above the national average.
- No. 88 in Quality of Life:
Only 24% of Dallas apartments are located in highly-rated areas. Public transportation usage is higher than in McKinney at 4.4%, but the city suffers from poor air quality, one of the lowest in the nation.
Plano, McKinney’s neighbor, also performed well, ranking No. 11. However, its cost of living is 9.9% higher than the national average, and while 79.4% of its rentals are high-end, only 13.6% have been built in the past five years.
The South's Rental Surge
The 2025 RentCafe rankings reaffirm the South’s growing appeal to renters. Of the top 50 best cities for renters, 41 are located in the South. Along with McKinney, other top-ranking Southern cities include Sarasota, FL (No. 2), Atlanta, GA (No. 3), Austin, TX (No. 4) and Huntsville, AL (No. 5).
With its high-end rental offerings, growing economy and superior quality of life, McKinney has officially set the standard for renters, not just in Texas, but nationwide.
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