RentCafe‘s first report of 2025 highlights the top cities to watch for rental activity this year, based on the most online engagement from apartment hunters on RentCafe.com in the past 12 months.

Renters in Arizona, heads up! Apartment availability has dropped in eight out of nine cities statewide. Notably, available listings in Gilbert decreased by a whopping 41% throughout last year, making it the 3rd tightest market and Arizona’s top city to watch in 2025.

Here are more details:

• • Both Gilbert and Chandler saw big decreases in availability: Gilbert’s drop is the second highest nationwide, while in Chandler there were 24% less apartments to choose from (the 16th highest drop).
  • These East Valley cities are joined by Peoria in occupying spots 37 through 39 nationwide of cities to watch in 2025, standing out from the other Arizona cities. Peoria saw a 12% drop in available apartments.

• Despite a construction boom last year, Phoenix’s properties were quickly occupied, as evidenced by a 10% drop in options available. Moreover, Phoenix saw increased interest from renters in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and New York, more than any other city in the state.
  

• Interestingly, the West boasts 10 entries on our list, tying with the Midwest for the top region renters should keep an eye on in the coming months. The highest-ranking Western cities are Santa Rosa, CA (#6), and Reno, NV (#12).

• The nation’s top 5 cities to watch in 2025 are Minneapolis; Atlanta; Overland Park, KS; Cleveland, OH; and Washington, D.C.

– more at azbigmedia.com