renter friendly

Far-flung Houston suburb among best U.S. cities for renters in 2024

The cost of living in Conroe is nearly eight percent lower than the national average, RentCafe said.

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Houstonians looking for their next apartment or house to rent should consider living in the far north suburb of Conroe, which was just ranked the No. 31 best city in the nation for renters, and No. 5 in Texas.

Apartment rental marketplace RentCafe's report, "Best Cities for Renters to Live in 2024," annually compares 150 U.S. cities based on their quality of life, local economy, and cost of living and housing opportunities. Previously, Conroe has ranked No. 9 in the 2023 edition, and was No. 3 in 2022.

Charleston, South Carolina maintained its position as the No. 1 best city for renters for the second consecutive year. Rounding out the top five top rental markets are Atlanta, Georgia (No. 2), Sarasota, Florida (No. 3), McKinney, Texas (No. 4), and Scottsdale Arizona (No. 5).

Conroe performed the best in the study's ranking of housing and cost of living, earning No. 10 out of all 150 cities in the report. RentCafe found the suburb's overall cost of living is 7.9 percent lower than the national average, and 23.7 percent of all apartments in the city have been built within the last five years. The average size of an apartment in Conroe spans 924 square feet.

Despite Conroe's great housing opportunities and low cost of living, the city unfortunately fell behind in the "quality of life" category (No. 54) and "local economy" rank (No. 73).

Houston proper ranked as the No. 71 best city for renters in 2024, tumbling from its former rank as the No. 53 in 2023.

Here's how Houston performed in the study's three main categories out of all 150 cities:

No. 38 – Housing and cost of living rank
No. 78 – Quality of life rank
No. 96 – Local economy rank

Houston's cost of living has dropped 5.7 percent below the national average, RentCafe said, but only 10.1 percent of the city's apartments have been built within the last five years. The average size of an apartment in Houston is 883 square feet, which is 41 square feet smaller than Conroe's average apartment size.

Other top cities for renters in Texas
The northern Dallas suburb of McKinney made its first appearance in RentCafe's study, claiming the No. 4 best rental market in the nation. Austin (No. 7) and its northern suburb Round Rock (No. 6) both held on to their positions among the top 10 best U.S. cities for renters for the second year in a row.

"When looking for the best place to rent in 2024, factors such as the size of apartments, employment or the quality of schools can really make a difference in the vetting process," the report said. "And while no city has everything, there are quite a few that come close and rank high for renters searching for options that better fit their wallets and lifestyle."

Here's how other Texas cities stacked up among the top 100 in RentCafe's report:

No. 17 – Plano (down from No. 2 in 2023)
No. 38 – Denton (down from No. 19 in 2023)
No. 52 – Midland
No. 53 – Fort Worth (down from No. 37 in 2023)
No. 55 – San Marcos
No. 57 – Dallas (down from No. 32 in 2023)
No. 58 – Lubbock (down from No. 43 in 2023)
No. 65 – San Antonio (down from No. 55 in 2023)
No. 85 – Amarillo
No. 91 – Waco (unchanged from 2023)

RentCafe used data from their sister site Yardi Matrix to determine each city's ranking based on 20 metrics, including average apartment size, the cost of living and housing, the share of renter-occupied households, renter household median income growth, and more. Cities were chosen if they had an "apartment stock" of a minimum of 10,000 units, and any cities with lower apartment stocks were excluded.

The full report can be found on rentcafe.com.

suburbs renting real estate reports houston conroe

on the market

Galveston's largest condo offers stunning Gulf views, listed at $2.95M

Photo courtesy of Nan & Company Properties

801 E. Beach Drive offers beachfront elegance.

The largest condo on Galveston island — complete with panoramic sea views and five bedrooms — is on the market. 801 E Beach Drive (Unit 2001) is priced at $2.95 million, and represented by Zuleima Cossio of Nan & Company Properties.

The approximately 3,800-square-foot, 20th floor residence feels like a spacious beach home in the sky, making it perfect for those who want space for family and friends. The residence’s design merged two premium floor plans in the oceanfront high rise, resulting in a spacious layout that includes five bedrooms, each with a private bath, and soaring 10-foot ceilings.

Its four expansive balconies total 805 square feet and offer uninterrupted views of the bay and the Gulf. The kitchen features Costa Esmeralda granite, custom cabinetry, and curated lighting. Those who like to host guests will appreciate the condo's coffee bar, wet bar with a Sub-Zero dual-control wine fridge, and undercounter beverage drawers.

Spacious dining and living rooms also ensure plenty of room for entertaining.

The condo delivers the feel of a generous beach home while providing the ease and amenities of a luxury, maintenance-free coastal lifestyle. Owners and their guests will love the ability to hit the beach or spend an afternoon by the high-rise’s private pool.

Those who are in the market for a spot that provides elegance, ample entertaining and living space, and beautiful views will be intrigued.

Photo courtesy of Nan & Company Properties

801 E. Beach Drive offers beachfront elegance.