With the rental season approaching fast, which cities are drawing the most interest from renters? We mapped out the most sought-after U.S. cities, based on millions of apartment searches on RentCafe.com.
Out of the nine Arizona markets analyzed, only Phoenix and Gilbert saw a dip in rankings. In contrast, Tempe experienced a massive surge in renter interest, signaling a clear shift in preference toward smaller locations.
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Overall, Arizona is seeing a statewide lift in online engagement, with Tempe and Scottsdale emerging as the top cities to watch ahead of the 2026 rental market.
Here are the details:
- Tempe surged 78 spots to reach #36 on our national ranking and #1 statewide. It stands out for the highest increase among Arizona cities in favorited properties (up 22%) signaling renters are narrowing down their searches.
- Similarly, Scottsdale jumped 32 spots to secure #37 — thanks, in part, to experiencing the highest increase in saved search statewide (up 67%) which indicates apartment hunters being more focused in their search.
- By contrast, declining renter interest in Phoenix — coupled with several markets already showing strong demand ahead of the 2026 rental season — pushed the city down 43 spots to #120.
Key national takeaways
- Cincinnati is the most sought-after city by renters at the start of 2026, leading rental demand nationwide.
- The Midwest dominates the 2026 rental landscape with 11 of the 30 most in-demand cities located in the region.
- Other markets such as Atlanta and Minneapolis are gaining momentum as appealing rental markets, ranking second and third nationally, respectively.
- El Paso, TX, has jumped 115 spots to #28, marking this report’s most impressive climb, as renter interest surged in the area.
Read more on the trends ahead of the 2026 moving season in our full report here.
