Owning a home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in a majority of U.S. counties, according to ATTOM’s 2026 Rental Affordability Report. However, rising home prices are continuing to make it harder for many renters to make the transition to ownership.
The report shows that typical home ownership costs required a smaller share of wages than renting in 57.7 percent of the 364 counties analyzed. Despite that long-term affordability advantage, many households still face significant upfront barriers as home prices continue to climb.
“Renters looking to put down roots, young families who need more space, professionals relocating for work and many others are facing a very tough choice,” said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. “The data shows that buying is typically the most affordable long-term option, but as the housing market sets new record-high prices quarter after quarter, affording the initial investment becomes increasingly challenging.”
Home Prices Rising Faster Than Rents
In many markets, home prices are rising faster than rents, further complicating affordability for prospective buyers. Median prices on single-family homes increased faster than rents in 69 percent of the counties analyzed.
Among the most populous counties where home prices rose faster than rents were:
- Los Angeles County, CA
- Harris County, TX
- Maricopa County, AZ
- San Diego County, CA
- Orange County, CA
By comparison, rent increases outpaced home price growth in several major counties including Cook County, IL; Alameda County, CA; Palm Beach County, FL; Hillsborough County, FL; and Orange County, FL.
Regional Differences Remain Significant
The affordability balance between buying and renting varies widely across regions.
In the Midwest, buying was more affordable than renting in 81.5 percent of counties analyzed, while in the South ownership was more affordable in 66.3 percent of counties. In contrast, buying was more affordable in just 48.8 percent of counties in the Northeast and 16.9 percent of counties in the West, where higher home prices continue to weigh on ownership affordability.
Largest Affordability Gaps
Some counties show particularly large affordability differences between renting and owning.
Counties where ownership had the biggest affordability advantage included:
- Collier County, FL
- Suffolk County, NY
- Taylor County, TX
- Mobile County, AL
- Harrison County, MS
Among counties with populations above one million residents, the largest ownership advantages appeared in Cook County, IL; Wayne County, MI; Allegheny County, PA; and Harris County, TX.
Meanwhile, renting remained far more affordable than buying in several high-cost markets including Alexandria City, VA; Maui County, HI; Santa Clara County, CA; Alameda County, CA; and Orange County, CA.
Housing Costs Still Consuming Large Share of Wages
Even where buying is technically more affordable than renting, housing costs still represent a significant financial burden for many households.
Home ownership expenses consumed more than one-third of the typical resident’s wages in 65.7 percent of counties analyzed, while renting required more than a third of wages in 76.9 percent of counties.
Overall, the data highlights a housing market where ownership can still offer long-term affordability advantages in many areas, but rising home prices and upfront costs continue to create barriers for many potential buyers.
Access the full report here. To get the data behind the story, please contact one of our data experts.