National rent is up 41% since 2019. In some cities it's up 60%, 70%, 80%. But not everywhere. A handful of U.S. cities have managed to stay relatively affordable, and more importantly, their rents are actually declining right now.

We screened over 1,000 cities tracked by Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for three things: rent under $1,800/month, year-over-year rent declining or flat, and total growth since 2019 under 35%. These are the 20 cities that passed.

The List: 20 Best Places to Rent in 2026

Every city on this list saw rent decline from January 2025 to January 2026. That's rare — only about a third of tracked cities can say that.

1. Georgetown, TX — $1,598/mo (down 5.9% this year)

2019: $1,296 → 2026: $1,598 (+23.2% since 2019)

A growing city north of Austin that benefited from the same construction boom pulling Austin rents down. Georgetown added significant housing inventory during the pandemic, and it's paying off for renters. At $1,598/month with a nearly 6% decline this year, it's one of the fastest-cooling markets in the state.

2. Hutto, TX — $1,591/mo (down 4.6% this year)

2019: $1,355 → 2026: $1,591 (+17.5% since 2019)

Another Austin-area suburb reaping the benefits of Texas's apartment construction wave. Hutto's +17.5% growth since 2019 is one of the lowest on this list — meaning it never got as inflated as its neighbors in the first place. Good schools, growing employment base, and actively declining rent.

3. Millcreek, UT — $1,394/mo (down 3.3% this year)

2019: $1,042 → 2026: $1,394 (+33.8% since 2019)

A Salt Lake City suburb that saw typical Wasatch Front growth during the pandemic but is now softening. At $1,394/month it's significantly cheaper than Salt Lake City proper, with easy access to the metro area's job market and outdoor recreation.

4. Longmont, CO — $1,794/mo (down 3.3% this year)

2019: $1,441 → 2026: $1,794 (+24.5% since 2019)

Positioned between Denver and Boulder, Longmont has always been the more affordable alternative along the Front Range. The 3.3% decline this year reflects the broader Colorado correction — Denver, Broomfield, Northglenn, and Aurora are all seeing rent drop too.

5. Austin, TX — $1,526/mo (down 2.9% this year)

2019: $1,306 → 2026: $1,526 (+16.8% since 2019)

The poster child of the rent correction. Austin peaked at over $1,786/month in mid-2022 and has been falling steadily since. The reason is simple: Austin permitted and built more apartments than almost any other major city during the boom. That supply is now hitting the market hard. At $1,526/month, Austin rents are still 16.8% above 2019 — but that's the lowest growth rate of any major Texas city.

6. Round Rock, TX — $1,623/mo (down 2.6% this year)

2019: $1,328 → 2026: $1,623 (+22.1% since 2019)

Austin's northern neighbor, riding the same correction wave. Round Rock has a strong local economy anchored by Dell Technologies and isn't purely dependent on Austin's job market, which adds stability.

7. Northglenn, CO — $1,653/mo (down 2.5% this year)

2019: $1,382 → 2026: $1,653 (+19.5% since 2019)

A Denver suburb that never got as expensive as its neighbors. At $1,653/month with only +19.5% growth since 2019, Northglenn represents real value in the Denver metro — where the city proper averages over $1,800.

8. Carrollton, TX — $1,564/mo (down 2.3% this year)

2019: $1,203 → 2026: $1,564 (+30.0% since 2019)

A Dallas suburb with good transit access and a diverse economy. The 2.3% decline this year signals that the DFW construction boom is starting to moderate rents in the suburbs, even as Dallas proper continues to see mild increases.

9. Pflugerville, TX — $1,640/mo (down 2.3% this year)

2019: $1,339 → 2026: $1,640 (+22.5% since 2019)

Yet another Austin-area city benefiting from the supply wave. Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, Cedar Park — the entire Austin metro is in correction mode. If you want to live in central Texas, 2026 is a better time than any point since 2020.

10. Stafford, TX — $1,494/mo (down 2.2% this year)

2019: $1,219 → 2026: $1,494 (+22.5% since 2019)

A Houston suburb with one of the lowest rents on this list. Stafford is known for having no city property tax, which attracts both businesses and residents. At under $1,500/month with rent declining, it's one of the best deals in the Houston metro.

11. New Braunfels, TX — $1,557/mo (down 2.0% this year)

2019: $1,290 → 2026: $1,557 (+20.7% since 2019)

Located between San Antonio and Austin on the I-35 corridor, New Braunfels is a fast-growing city that still manages to stay relatively affordable. The German-heritage town has become a popular alternative to both larger metros.

12. Pasadena, TX — $1,350/mo (down 2.0% this year)

2019: $1,068 → 2026: $1,350 (+26.3% since 2019)

One of the cheapest cities on this list at $1,350/month. Pasadena sits in the Houston metro and benefits from proximity to the energy industry job market along the Ship Channel. Not glamorous, but genuinely affordable.

13. Wheat Ridge, CO — $1,762/mo (down 1.9% this year)

2019: $1,345 → 2026: $1,762 (+31.0% since 2019)

A quirky inner-ring Denver suburb with a walkable downtown area. Wheat Ridge offers a more neighborhood-y feel than Denver proper, at a lower price point that's now declining.

14. Lakewood, CO — $1,728/mo (down 1.7% this year)

2019: $1,368 → 2026: $1,728 (+26.3% since 2019)

Another Denver-area city in the correction zone. Lakewood is a large suburb west of Denver with good access to both the city and the mountains. The declining rent trend across the Colorado Front Range makes this area increasingly attractive for renters.

15. Buda, TX — $1,658/mo (down 1.6% this year)

2019: $1,338 → 2026: $1,658 (+23.9% since 2019)

South of Austin, Buda has grown from a small town into a legitimate suburb with its own identity. Like the rest of the Austin corridor, rent is actively declining.

16. Denton, TX — $1,452/mo (down 1.5% this year)

2019: $1,111 → 2026: $1,452 (+30.7% since 2019)

A college town (UNT, TWU) north of Dallas that offers a younger, more walkable vibe than typical Texas suburbs. At $1,452/month it's one of the more affordable options in the DFW metro.

17. Cedar Park, TX — $1,540/mo (down 1.5% this year)

2019: $1,309 → 2026: $1,540 (+17.6% since 2019)

Cedar Park has the second-lowest since-2019 growth on this entire list at just +17.6%. That means it never got as overheated as many of its neighbors. Combined with a 1.5% decline this year, it's one of the best-value spots in central Texas.

18. Aurora, CO — $1,686/mo (down 1.5% this year)

2019: $1,326 → 2026: $1,686 (+27.1% since 2019)

Denver's largest suburb and a city in its own right with 400,000+ residents. Aurora offers diverse neighborhoods, proximity to Denver International Airport, and a growing healthcare and defense employment base.

19. Aubrey, TX — $1,743/mo (down 1.5% this year)

2019: $1,399 → 2026: $1,743 (+24.6% since 2019)

A small but fast-growing city in the northern DFW metro. Aubrey represents the wave of new communities north of Denton that are absorbing Dallas-area growth with enough new construction to keep rents in check.

20. San Antonio, TX — $1,347/mo (down 1.4% this year)

2019: $1,120 → 2026: $1,347 (+20.2% since 2019)

The largest city on this list by population and the cheapest at $1,347/month. San Antonio never ran up as dramatically as Austin during the pandemic, so its correction is gentler. But the trajectory is the same — new supply entering the market, rent declining year-over-year, and relative affordability compared to almost any other major metro in the country.

The Pattern

Texas dominates. 13 of the 20 cities are in Texas, and 7 of those are in the Austin metro. The Texas story is about supply: the state permitted record apartment construction during the pandemic boom, and that inventory is now hitting the market. The result is a broad-based rent correction that makes Texas one of the best states for renters in 2026.

Colorado is the runner-up with 5 cities on the list — all in the Denver metro. The Front Range is experiencing a similar dynamic: enough new construction to moderate the market, combined with a slight cooling in demand.

Utah gets one spot (Millcreek) as the Salt Lake City metro softens slightly.

The common thread: these are all cities where construction kept pace with demand. When cities build enough housing, rent comes down. When they don't, it doesn't. That's the entire lesson of the post-pandemic housing market in one sentence.

See where rent surged the most: 20 Cities Where Rent Surged the Most This Year. Compare with 20 Cities Where Rent Fell, or explore the full Rent by City data.

Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), city-level data. January 2019 and January 2025 vs January 2026 figures.