Renters can’t get enough of Beantown, and apartments were quickly snapped off the greater Boston market throughout 2025. The metro claimed the title of hottest New England rental market in RentCafe’s year-end rental competitiveness roundup.

Using data from Yardi Systems, RentCafe ranked 139 rental markets in the U.S. based on metrics like occupancy rate and share of new apartments built. Besides the No. 1 spot in New England, Boston placed No. 11 nationwide.

Demand so outpaced supply in greater Boston that the metro experienced a 95% occupancy rate in 2025. Apartments spent an average of 38 days on the market, and 11 renters competed for every vacant unit. Meanwhile, new apartment construction ticked up by just 2%.

Once Boston renters secure a home, they are unlikely to leave. The city’s lease renewal rate grew 2.6% during 2025 to 64%.

Boston was the only market in the northeastern region in 2025 to become more competitive (up 1.5%), according to RentCafe’s Rental Competitiveness Index. Boston’s RCI score sits at 81.5 compared to the national average of 75.2.

“Across New England, renters saw shifting conditions this year — with Boston turning up the heat and nearby markets showing signs of relief after last year’s intense competition,” said RentCafe research analyst Veronica Grecu.