According to ATTOM’s newly released 2026 Single-Family Rental Market Report, rental yields are projected to decline from 2025 to 2026 in 54.8 percent (187) of the 341 counties with sufficient data for analysis in both years. Those decreases in profitability come even as rent growth outpaces home price appreciation in many areas. In 55 percent (229) of the 416 counties with sufficient rent and price data, median rents increased at a faster rate than median sales prices between 2025 and 2026.
WATCH: ATTOM #figuresfriday- Top 10 Best Single-Family Rental Counties in 2026
According to the report, last year marked a historic high for home values, with the national median sales price reaching a record $360,000. As purchase prices climb, landlords face higher upfront costs to acquire rental properties than ever before. At the same time, those rising prices are keeping many potential buyers in the rental market, forcing tenants to continue renting, often at higher rates, because homeownership remains out of reach.
ATTOM’s latest single-family rental market analysis reported that typical wages grew faster than three-bedroom rents from 2025 to 2026 in 63 percent (262) of the 416 counties with sufficient data for analysis. Among the largest counties where wage growth outpaced rent increases were Los Angeles County, CA; Harris County, TX; Maricopa County, AZ; San Diego County, CA; and Orange County, CA.
The Q1 single-family rental report noted that typical wages also increased faster than median home sales prices in 66.8 percent (278) of the 416 counties with sufficient data for analysis.
ATTOM’s analysis identified 18 “Single-Family Rental Growth” counties where average wages rose over the past year and projected rental yields for 2026 exceed 10 percent. The largest among them are Suffolk County, NY; Onondaga County, NY; Lucas County, OH; Mobile County, AL; and Collier County, FL.
In this post, we take a more granular look at the data behind ATTOM’s 2026 Single-Family Rentals report to uncover the top 10 best single-family rental growth counties where average wages increased over the past year and projected rental yields for 2026 exceed 10%.
#1 – Saint Clair County, Illinois
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 14.5 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 2.6 percent
#2 – Mobile County, Alabama
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 13.6 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 4 percent
#3 – Peoria County, Illinois
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 12.5 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 4.6 percent
#4 – Saint Louis County, Minnesota
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 11.6 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 3.6 percent
#5 – Trumbull County, Ohio
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 11.5 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 4.2 percent
#6 – Florence County, South Carolina
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 11.4 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 5.7 percent
#7 – Saint Louis City County, Missouri
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 11.3 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 4.5 percent
#8 – Suffolk County, New York
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 10.8 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 3.1 percent
#9 – Collier County, Florida
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 10.6 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 2.4 percent
#10 – Onondaga County, New York
- 2026 Annual Gross Rental Yield: 10.6 percent
- Q2 2025 Year over Year Wage Growth: 4.4 percent
Conclusion
ATTOM’s 2026 Single-Family Rental Market Report shows rental yields are projected to decline in more than half of analyzed U.S. counties, even as rent growth continues to outpace home price appreciation in many areas. The analysis also highlights 18 counties where rising wages and projected rental yields above 10% signal strong single-family rental investment potential.
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