U.S. House Rents Hold Steady as Apartment Rents Decline, Dwellsy IQ 2026 Rental Housing Index Shows

New report finds rental market stabilizing as new supply moderates, affordability limits rent growth, and local markets diverge from national trends

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Dwellsy IQ published its 2026 Rental Housing Index, a data-driven analysis of rental price movements across the U.S. The report analyzes observed asking rent data through the end of 2025 using Dwellsy IQ's dataset of over 17 million unit listings. Nationally, three-bedroom rental houses averaged $1,892 at the end of 2025, reflecting a modest 0.3% year-over-year increase, while one-bedroom apartments averaged $1,338, marking a 0.7% year-over-year decline.

Why it matters

The report highlights the stabilizing rental market, with new supply moderating and affordability constraints limiting rent growth. However, the data also shows that national averages can hide important differences between individual markets, with some cities experiencing significant rent increases or declines.

The details

The analysis examines pricing patterns for three-bedroom rental houses and one-bedroom apartments, alongside market-level results across major U.S. metropolitan areas. Nationally, three-bedroom rental houses saw a 0.3% year-over-year increase, while one-bedroom apartments experienced a 0.7% year-over-year decline. Some markets, such as Chicago, recorded the strongest rent growth, while others like Denver, Boston, and Phoenix saw negative rent growth.

  • The report analyzes observed asking rent data through the end of calendar year 2025.

The players

Dwellsy IQ

Dwellsy's enterprise rental data brand focused on providing high-quality rental market intelligence.

Jonas Bordo

CEO of Dwellsy.

Briggs Advisors

A partner in producing the Dwellsy IQ 2026 Rental Housing Index.

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What they’re saying

“When you look at real, observed rent data rather than estimates from scraping or surveys, the story becomes clearer.”

— Jonas Bordo, CEO of Dwellsy

The takeaway

The Dwellsy IQ 2026 Rental Housing Index highlights the stabilizing rental market, with national averages masking important differences between individual markets. While some cities are experiencing rent increases, others are seeing declines, underscoring the need for localized data and analysis to understand the nuances of the rental housing landscape.