A brand new RentCafe report has discovered San Marcos’ alluring marketplace for renters has earned it a top-30 spot among the many greatest U.S. cities for renters in 2025. San Antonio additionally made a powerful leap into the highest 50 this yr.
RentCafe’s “Finest Cities for Renters to Stay in 2025” report yearly compares 150 U.S. cities based mostly on 20 elements inspecting their high quality of life, native financial system, and price of dwelling and housing alternatives. The report notes that cities had been chosen if that they had an “condo inventory” consisting of a minimal 10,000 items, and any cities with decrease condo shares had been excluded.
San Marcos ranked twenty seventh total on the checklist in a spectacular 28-place leap from its 2024 rating, whereas San Antonio moved up 21 spots into No. 44 this yr.
The Dallas suburb McKinney claimed the title because the No. 1 greatest metropolis for renters after dethroning Charleston, South Carolina, which had held the highest spot for the final two years. Charleston has since slumped into the No. 7 spot for 2025.
Rounding out the highest 5 greatest U.S. cities for renters this yr are Sarasota, Florida (No. 2), Atlanta, Georgia (No. 3), Austin, Texas (No. 4), and Huntsville, Alabama (No. 5).
San Marcos acquired excessive reward for its affordability, as town’s value of dwelling is 9.5 p.c decrease than the nationwide common, in response to the report’s findings. San Marcos’ housing and affordability earned it No. 2 within the report’s rating of all cities based mostly on their housing and price of dwelling.
San Marcos additionally boasts the most important common condo sizes in Texas, at 988 sq. toes, which can be the sixteenth greatest condo measurement on common nationally.
Regardless of having a shining fame for its budget-friendliness, San Marcos sadly loses out within the “native financial system” and “high quality of life” classes. RentCafe says San Marcos’ native financial system is barely the sixtieth greatest within the nation, and it has the “worst” high quality of life out of all U.S. cities, rating No. 150, with out explaining why.
San Antonio tumbled into the No. 65 spot final yr, however it might be getting its appeal again because it now ranks because the forty fourth greatest metropolis for renters to dwell in 2025. Its low value of dwelling – almost 9 p.c decrease than the nationwide common – plus its pet-friendliness and affordability for households make it a sexy place for people seeking to put down roots.
Elsewhere in TexasOverall, it seems most Texas cities made slight enhancements within the rankings since final yr. Austin and its northern suburb Spherical Rock each remained within the high 10 this yr, however the Texas Capital surpassed its neighbor to assert the No. 4 spot, leaving Spherical Rock behind because the eighth greatest metropolis for renters.
“The South firmly establishes itself as the highest area for renters in 2025, by claiming a powerful 41 of the 50 featured cities,” the report mentioned. “From main rental markets like Atlanta and Austin, TX, to rising stars similar to McKinney, TX, and Spherical Rock, TX, the South’s robust presence within the high 10 highlights its growing attraction to renters throughout the board.”
Here is how different Texas cities stacked up among the many high 100 in RentCafe’s report:
No. 11 – Plano (up from No. 17 final yr)No. 24 – Conroe (up from No. 31 final yr)No. 33 – Denton (up from No. 38 final yr)No. 38 – Fort Price (up from No. 53 final yr)No. 57 – Dallas (unchanged from 2024)No. 58 – Lubbock (unchanged from 2024)No. 63 – Midland (down from No. 52 final yr)No. 69 – Amarillo (up from No. 85 final yr)No. 70 – Houston (up from No. 71 final yr)No. 88 – Waco (up from No. 91 final yr)
