Greater Boston has one of the most competitive rental markets in the United States, making RentCafe’s list of Top 20 Most Competitive Rental Markets in Peak Rental Season 2023. 

RentCafe analyzed 139 markets using five metrics to determine the hottest renting spots including average days apartments stayed vacant (15%), apartment occupancy rate (30%), prospective renters per vacant unit (15%) percentage of renters who renewed their leases (30%) and share of new apartments (10%).

Greater Boston ranked No. 14. With an overall score of 86. Apartments in the area were vacant an average of 35 days, had a 95.4% occupancy rate, had 14 prospective renters, a lease renewal rate of 59.2% and a 0.2% share of new apartments. 

Miami-Dade County, Florida, ranked No. 1 followed by Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and North Jersey, New Jersey. Suburban Chicago and Grand Rapids, Michigan, rounded out the top five.