Nationally, rent prices increased slightly in April, with the median one-bedroom rent rising to $1,012 per month. That’s the highest it’s been since January’s figure of $1,016, and represents an overall decline since the beginning of the year of .39%.
When it came to the steepest rent drops, two familiar faces led the way: Lincoln, Neb., and Fort Wayne, Ind. Each city’s rent dropped 8.2%, to continue a months-long slide. Lincoln’s median rent of $627 represents a 21% decrease from its January rent of $801, and Fort Wayne’s $493 is a 26.4% decline from its year-opening rent of $671 per month.
Those declines might seem steep. One explanation: In order to better approximate what an apartment-seeker would experience when looking for a place to rent, ABODO collects data only on active listings currently on the market, which can vary widely month-to-month, depending on supply.
The rest of the biggest decreases were more minor, between 3% and 5%. A number of cities — Lubbock, Texas (-4.6%); Nashville, Tenn. (-4.3%); Cleveland, Ohio (-3.4%); and Riverside, Calif. (-3.2%) — reprised their places on the list of greatest decreases for the second month in a row. In fact, this marks the third straight month that Nashville, Cleveland, and Riverside appeared on the list of greatest rental falls.
The nation’s largest rental hike came in Glendale, AZ, where one-bedroom median rents rose 11.5% to $861. That marks the continuation of a months-long trend: Glendale rents have increased every month since January, and currently they’re 26% higher than they were at the beginning of the year. New Orleans (8.1%), Seattle (6.7%), and Phoenix (4.9%) also reprise their places on the list of biggest rent increases.
The list of cities with the nation’s highest rents in April is largely unchanged from our last report. San Francisco’s $3,415 price tag still leads the way, followed by New York City, N.Y. ($2,705), San Jose, Calif. ($2,459); and Boston, Mass. ($2,398). The only newcomer is Seattle, whose 6.7% rental jump to $1,680 puts it at the tenth-highest in the country.
For the full report and to view associated infographics and charts, click here.
Related Stories
| May 30, 2014
MIT researchers create 'home in a box' transformable wall system for micro apartments
Dubbed CityHome, the system integrates furniture, storage, exercise equipment, lighting, office equipment, and entertainment systems into a compact wall unit.
| May 30, 2014
Developer will convert Dallas' storied LTV Building into mixed-use residential tower
New Orleans-based HRI Properties recently completed the purchase of one of the most storied buildings in downtown Dallas. The developer will convert the LTV Building into a mixed-use complex, with 171 hotel rooms and 186 luxury apartments.
| May 29, 2014
7 cost-effective ways to make U.S. infrastructure more resilient
Moving critical elements to higher ground and designing for longer lifespans are just some of the ways cities and governments can make infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters and climate change, writes Richard Cavallaro, President of Skanska USA Civil.
| May 29, 2014
Wood advocacy groups release 'lessons learned' report on tall wood buildings
The wood-industry advocacy group reThink Wood has released "Summary Report: Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings," with informatino from 10 mid-rise projects in Europe, Australia, and Canada.
| May 28, 2014
Moshe Safdie's twin residential towers in Singapore will be connected by 'sky pool' 38 stories in the air [slideshow]
Moshe Safdie's latest project, a pair of 38-story luxury residential towers in Singapore, will be linked by three "sky garden" bridges, including a rooftop-level bridge with a lap pool running the length between the two structures.
| May 27, 2014
America's oldest federal public housing development gets a facelift
First opened in 1940, South Boston's Old Colony housing project had become a symbol of poor housing conditions. Now the revamped neighborhood serves as a national model for sustainable, affordable multifamily design.
| May 23, 2014
Big design, small package: AIA Chicago names 2014 Small Project Awards winners
Winning projects include an events center for Mies van der Rohe's landmark Farnsworth House and a new boathouse along the Chicago river.
| May 22, 2014
No time for a trip to Dubai? Team BlackSheep's drone flyover gives a bird's eye view [video]
Team BlackSheep—devotees of filmmaking with drones—has posted a fun video that takes viewers high over the city for spectacular vistas of a modern architectural showcase.
| May 22, 2014
NYC's High Line connects string of high-profile condo projects
The High Line, New York City's elevated park created from a conversion of rail lines, is the organizing principle for a series of luxury condo buildings designed by big names in architecture.
| May 20, 2014
Kinetic Architecture: New book explores innovations in active façades
The book, co-authored by Arup's Russell Fortmeyer, illustrates the various ways architects, consultants, and engineers approach energy and comfort by manipulating air, water, and light through the layers of passive and active building envelope systems.