The 2010s: The Decade of the Suburban Rental

Census data reveal a growing number of suburbs are home to a majority of renters. The data challenges the "very definition of suburban living," according to this article.

1 minute read

September 28, 2021, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Basement Apartment

Elvert Barnes / Flickr

"Renters are now the majority in 103 suburbs that were previously homeowner territory 10 years ago," reports Adrian Papa, citing Census data analysis by RentCafé.

The nation’s 50 largest metros gained 4.7 million people since 2010, according to the article—and 79 percent of the new population rent their homes.

"Today, about 21 million people rent a suburban home in the 50 largest U.S. metros — 3.7 million more than 10 years ago. What’s more, between 2010 and 2019, the number of suburban renters grew by 22% — a number that dwarfs the 3% increase in suburban homeowners during the same period."

In 2020, 103 suburbs were majority renter, with 57 more suburbs likely to make the switch in the next five years. The article also breaks down the data by region, finding Washington, D.C. leading the way with 14 suburbs newly majority renter, followed by Miami with 13 and Los Angeles with 12.

Monday, September 13, 2021 in RentCafé

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