• Among the 150 cities analyzed, apartments in Atlanta are renters’ second most saved searched listings — an important step before signing a lease. 
  
  
• High demand, fewer options: Available apartments increased by a mere 1% compared to the same six-month period in 2023, offering renters the same limited options as they faced one year ago.

High home prices and limited housing options are making renting the preferred choice for many aspiring homeowners. So, because the rental season is getting hotter and apartment hunters are on the prowl, we did a mid-year check-in to see which cities had received the most attention from renters in the first half of 2024.

Minneapolis reigns supreme as the most in-demand city in the last six months, after attracting the highest online engagement on RentCafe.com and claiming the top spot for five out of six months.

Hot on its heels is Overland Park, KS, followed by Atlanta — both consistently making appearances on the podium between January and June. Notably, Overland Park briefly edged out Minneapolis for the top spot in April, while Atlanta emerged as the top market to watch in 2024 after attracting the highest number of online engagements on RentCafe.com in 2023.

At the same time, the West leads as the most popular region for renters seeking options that match their needs and lifestyles. Specifically, the West boasts 10 entries in the top 30 most-coveted cities for renters. Namely, cities like Tacoma, WA (#7); North Las Vegas, NV (#14); Sacramento, CA (#16); Peoria, AZ (#19); and Denver (#26) have maintained their increased renter appeal throughout the first half of the year.