Renters Are Choosing Fort Lauderdale Over Miami, New Data Says

Fort Lauderdale has surged ahead of Miami to become the top rental market in all of the state, according to new data revealed by RentCafe.

Looking at apartment availability, listing views and properties saved to favorites, the website’s REnT (Renter Engagement Tracker) placed Fort Lauderdale at No.1 in Florida, with a score above 70. In comparison, Miami scored only 48, ranking No. 8 in the state.

Fort Lauderdale climbed 41 spots compared to last year, reaching 20th place nationally. Meanwhile, Miami ranked 134th nationwide, falling behind cities like Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

In the South alone — which leads the way by claiming 14 of the top 30 most sought-after cities by renters — Fort Lauderdale landed in sixth place, behind Washington, D.C. in first; Atlanta in second, Amarillo, TX; New Orleans and Louisville, KY.

Unlike in previous years, where Miami dominated the market, Fort Lauderdale appears to be attracting attention for its less congested, community-style living. The data also revealed that Fort Lauderdale’s rental availability declined by 7%, a sign of strong renter demand. Miami, on the other hand, experienced a 70% increase in listings, but only a 3% rise in apartments added to favorites.

Here are the top 20 rental markets in the U.S. for the first half of 2025:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. Kansas City, MO
3. Cincinnati, OH
4. Minneapolis, MN
5. Atlanta, GA
6. Chicago, IL
7. Los Angeles, CA
8. Philadelphia, PA
9. Las Vegas, NV
10. St. Paul, MN
11. Columbus, OH
12. Cleveland, OH
13. Overland Park, KS
14. Grand Rapids, MI
15. Amarillo, TX
16. Long Beach, CA
17. New Orleans, LA
18. Louisville, KY
19. Portland, OR
20. Fort Lauderdale, FL