Apartment hunting are competitive during the peak rental season. Despite thousands of new units entering the market, renters across the U.S. face stiff competition this summer, with the national RCI at 74.6.
Orange County Rents Stay Competitive in Peak Season
California saw strong rental competition, posting a 72.5 RCI for the 2025 peak season. It is slightly below the national RCI of 74.6, which indicates a generally competitive market nationwide, according to an analysis by RentCafe.
Orange County lead the state in rental competitiveness, reflecting high apartment demand, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Despite new apartment developments across the state, prospective tenants continued to navigate limited availability and high demand, especially in highly sought-after areas like Orange County.
Of 66 major U.S. markets, Orange County ranked 25th in competitiveness in Q2 2025. The RentCafe analysis notes that, besides demand outspacing supply, long-term lease renewals have also impacted the market.
Miami Leads, Chicago and the Midwest Follow in Tight Rental Markets
Miami tops the national Rental Competitiveness Index as the country’s hottest rental market this season. Chicago ranks just behind, establishing itself as another highly competitive rental hub, RentCafe reports.
The Twin Cities metro area is among the fastest-growing rental markets. San Francisco has witnessed growing pressure due to the boom in the AI industry.
Brooklyn in the Northeast lead with 85.1 RCI. Meanwhile, New York City boroughs were experiencing rising competition, with rapid apartment turnover despite fewer renewals.
Lafayette, Indiana, ranked the country’s tightest small rental market. Highlighting a strong demand in the Midwest.
With fierce competition nationwide, limited availability and long-term lease renewals continued to challenge renters in both major and smaller markets.
