Best Rental Markets Under $200,000 (2026)
Every county here has a median home price under $200,000, which puts a first rental within reach of a conventional down payment. They are ranked by cap rate so the strongest yields in the affordable tier come first.
Top 50 markets, ranked
Lauderdale County, MS leads with a median price of $126,965, median rent of $1,412, and a 8.7% cap rate. Click any market for the full county report, or run its numbers in the calculator.
| # | Market | Cap rate | Median price | Median rent | Cash flow | Analyze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lauderdale County, MS | 8.7% | $126,965 | $1,412 | $252 | Run numbers |
| 2 | Halifax County, NC | 8.5% | $104,082 | $1,137 | $193 | Run numbers |
| 3 | Woodward County, OK | 8.4% | $139,482 | $1,508 | $249 | Run numbers |
| 4 | Fairfield County, SC | 8.3% | $194,460 | $2,056 | $317 | Run numbers |
| 5 | Hinds County, MS | 7.7% | $132,636 | $1,305 | $153 | Run numbers |
| 6 | Kleberg County, TX | 7.5% | $149,161 | $1,426 | $145 | Run numbers |
| 7 | Jefferson County, AR | 7.4% | $90,392 | $863 | $87 | Run numbers |
| 8 | Baltimore City, MD | 7.4% | $189,179 | $1,801 | $179 | Run numbers |
| 9 | McDonough County, IL | 7.2% | $99,184 | $919 | $77 | Run numbers |
| 10 | Vermilion Parish, LA | 7.2% | $165,169 | $1,525 | $125 | Run numbers |
| 11 | Walker County, AL | 7.0% | $128,911 | $1,162 | $79 | Run numbers |
| 12 | Polk County, TX | 7.0% | $183,009 | $1,643 | $109 | Run numbers |
| 13 | Vermilion County, IL | 7.0% | $98,565 | $881 | $56 | Run numbers |
| 14 | Iberia Parish, LA | 7.0% | $147,837 | $1,322 | $84 | Run numbers |
| 15 | Houghton County, MI | 6.9% | $195,813 | $1,736 | $102 | Run numbers |
| 16 | Halifax County, VA | 6.9% | $157,886 | $1,402 | $83 | Run numbers |
| 17 | Garfield County, OK | 6.8% | $144,106 | $1,266 | $67 | Run numbers |
| 18 | Jackson County, OK | 6.7% | $114,041 | $980 | $39 | Run numbers |
| 19 | Saint Landry Parish, LA | 6.6% | $133,132 | $1,129 | $36 | Run numbers |
| 20 | Robeson County, NC | 6.6% | $140,027 | $1,187 | $37 | Run numbers |
| 21 | Montgomery County, KS | 6.6% | $103,856 | $875 | $24 | Run numbers |
| 22 | Dale County, AL | 6.5% | $164,984 | $1,383 | $34 | Run numbers |
| 23 | Danville City, VA | 6.5% | $138,282 | $1,152 | $24 | Run numbers |
| 24 | Kanawha County, WV | 6.4% | $159,219 | $1,300 | $10 | Run numbers |
| 25 | Saint Mary Parish, LA | 6.4% | $116,261 | $950 | $8 | Run numbers |
| 26 | Montgomery County, AL | 6.3% | $167,405 | $1,364 | $9 | Run numbers |
| 27 | Chaves County, NM | 6.3% | $171,685 | $1,399 | $9 | Run numbers |
| 28 | Edgecombe County, NC | 6.3% | $140,520 | $1,135 | $1 | Run numbers |
| 29 | Ware County, GA | 6.3% | $148,493 | $1,200 | $2 | Run numbers |
| 30 | Macon County, IL | 6.3% | $127,757 | $1,030 | $0 | Run numbers |
| 31 | Orangeburg County, SC | 6.2% | $166,963 | $1,323 | -$15 | Run numbers |
| 32 | Martinsville City, VA | 6.2% | $119,923 | $950 | -$11 | Run numbers |
| 33 | Wayne County, MI | 6.1% | $181,365 | $1,423 | -$26 | Run numbers |
| 34 | Saint Lawrence County, NY | 6.1% | $150,639 | $1,173 | -$27 | Run numbers |
| 35 | Hale County, TX | 6.1% | $121,849 | $947 | -$23 | Run numbers |
| 36 | Boyd County, KY | 6.0% | $135,878 | $1,050 | -$30 | Run numbers |
| 37 | Wayne County, NC | 5.9% | $189,785 | $1,437 | -$61 | Run numbers |
| 38 | Caddo Parish, LA | 5.8% | $152,948 | $1,145 | -$58 | Run numbers |
| 39 | Schuylkill County, PA | 5.8% | $169,641 | $1,267 | -$66 | Run numbers |
| 40 | Saint Louis City, MO | 5.8% | $186,876 | $1,394 | -$73 | Run numbers |
| 41 | Coffee County, AL | 5.8% | $187,569 | $1,400 | -$73 | Run numbers |
| 42 | Lowndes County, MS | 5.8% | $187,517 | $1,396 | -$75 | Run numbers |
| 43 | Curry County, NM | 5.8% | $162,611 | $1,206 | -$68 | Run numbers |
| 44 | Crittenden County, AR | 5.8% | $169,436 | $1,255 | -$73 | Run numbers |
| 45 | Bristol City, VA | 5.8% | $183,577 | $1,361 | -$78 | Run numbers |
| 46 | Pulaski County, KY | 5.8% | $183,753 | $1,360 | -$79 | Run numbers |
| 47 | Wichita County, TX | 5.8% | $172,904 | $1,277 | -$76 | Run numbers |
| 48 | Steuben County, NY | 5.7% | $174,260 | $1,277 | -$83 | Run numbers |
| 49 | Vernon Parish, LA | 5.7% | $162,513 | $1,190 | -$79 | Run numbers |
| 50 | Saint Clair County, IL | 5.7% | $180,981 | $1,321 | -$90 | Run numbers |
Showing the top 50 of 200 qualifying markets.
How this ranking is calculated
We scored 200 counties and ranked them by capitalization rate, among counties with a median home price under $200,000. Counties without both a median home price and a median rent are excluded, because cash flow cannot be estimated without both.
Every figure assumes a median-priced home rented at the local median rent, financed with 20 percent down on a 30-year loan at 6.85%, with closing costs at 3 percent of price and operating costs at 35 percent of rent. Operating costs cover taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and management.
These are modeled estimates for comparing markets, not quotes on a specific property. A real deal turns on the individual property, its condition, and the actual rent it can command. Run any market that interests you through the calculator with real numbers before you make an offer.
Other ways to rank markets
The best market depends on what you are optimizing for. These rankings measure different things and produce different lists.
Best Cash Flow Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated monthly cash flow on a median-priced rental, after mortgage and operating costs.
Highest Cap Rate Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated cap rate on a median-priced rental, using local median rent and a 35 percent operating cost assumption.
Best Cash-on-Cash Return Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated first-year cash-on-cash return on a median-priced rental with 20 percent down.
Cheapest Markets With Positive Cash Flow
The lowest-priced US counties where a median-priced rental still covers its mortgage and operating costs.
Best Appreciation Markets for Real Estate Investors
US counties ranked by appreciation score, blending recent home price growth with the risk of an overheated market.
Best Overall Real Estate Markets to Invest In
US counties ranked by overall investment score, blending cash flow, appreciation, stability, and affordability.
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Check a real deal in this market
These are median-priced estimates. Put in the actual price, rent, taxes, and financing for a property you are looking at and see whether it clears your bar.