These Pacific Northwest cities among worst places to rent, WalletHub says

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — If you’re a renter looking for a new place to roost, the Pacific Northwest might not be your best bet, according to a recent study.

WalletHub released their 2025 ranking of the Best and Worst Places to Rent in America, ranking 182 different major cities across the key factors of rental market and affordability, as well as quality of life.

Of the five Pacific Northwest cities featured, all of them ranked in the lower half of the list, with Tacoma, Wash. coming in near the bottom at #179.

In ascending order, Vancouver, Wash. ranked at #161, followed by Salem, Ore. at #149, Spokane at #122, Portland at #101 and Seattle at #99.

But overall, the study says the best city for renters is Overland Park, Kan. which scored among the top 10 for quality of life and affordability.

The worst place to rent, according to the study, is Memphis, Tenn. which also ranked at the very bottom in the quality of life metric.

“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent. Our study also considers quality-of-life factors such as a city’s traffic congestion, job market or recreation options to make sure you can get a good living experience, not just inexpensive housing.”

WalletHub’s top 10 best/worst cities for renters:

Best	Worst
1. Overland Park, Kan.	173. Huntington, W. Va
2. Scottsdale, Ariz.	174. San Bernardino, Calif.
3. Chandler, Ariz.	175. Baton Rouge, La.
4. Gilbert, Ariz.	176. Jackson, Miss.
5. Bismarck, N.D.	177. Newark, N.J.
6. Sioux Falls, S.D.	178. New Orleans, La.
7. Huntsville, Ala.	179. Tacoma, Wash.
8. Peoria, Ariz.	180. Cleveland, Ohio
9. Lewiston, Maine	181. Detroit, Mich.
10. Nashua, N.H.	182. Memphis, Tenn.