SCOTTSDALE, AZ — If you're renting in Scottsdale, a new national study says you're in the best place in the country to do it.
The personal finance website WalletHub released its 2026 Best Cities for Renters report this week, ranking Scottsdale first out of 182 cities nationwide.
The ranking is driven largely by quality of life, where Scottsdale claimed the top spot in the entire country.
To determine the best rental markets, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 21 measures of rental attractiveness and quality of life, ranging from rental affordability and cost of living to job availability and recreation options.
According to officials, the data used for the study was collected as of June 9, 2026.
"In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "Our study also considers quality-of-life factors such as a city's traffic congestion, job market or recreation options to make sure you can get a good living experience, not just inexpensive housing."
Scottsdale earned the No. 1 ranking for both job availability and driving environment, which WalletHub measures based on traffic and infrastructure quality. It also ranked fourth for weather and seventh for recreation.
On the rental market and affordability side, the city ranked 57th out of 182, with most renters spending under 22% of their annual income on rent. The average rental home in Scottsdale comes in at 2,179 square feet, one of the larger averages in the country.
Arizona’s state-level laws addressing bedbug infestations in rental properties also factored into the score, giving Scottsdale renters added legal protections.
Scottsdale wasn't the only Phoenix-area city to stand out. Gilbert ranked second overall nationally, with the third-lowest crime rate in the study and 61% of public schools rated at least 7 out of 10 by GreatSchools.org. Chandler came in third, with renters spending around 21% of their income on rent and more than 17% of homes built since 2010. Peoria rounded out the local showing at sixth overall.
Four of the top 10 cities in the country for renters are in the Phoenix metro area.
The full 2026 Best Cities for Renters report, including complete methodology and rankings for all 182 cities, is available at WalletHub.com.
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