Conroe has outranked Houston in a new nationwide report on the best cities for renters in 2025. Boosted by affordable living, high-end housing, and a growing job market, Conroe placed 24th, well ahead of Houston’s 70th-place finish.
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Conroe, a rapidly expanding city located north of Houston, has surpassed Houston in the 2025 Best Cities for Renters Report, published by the apartment search platform RentCafe.
Conroe has made a notable leap to 24th place this year, improving from 31st in 2024, driven by impressive results in housing affordability, local economic growth, and overall quality of life. In the latest update, Houston maintained its position at 70th, remaining consistent with its ranking from last year.
A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on 150 cities across the United States, utilizing data from RentCafe’s sister company, Yardi Matrix. The analysis centered on three pivotal categories: cost of living and housing, local economy, and the quality of life for renters. McKinney, a suburb of Dallas, ranked first, with several other cities in Texas close behind, such as Austin at fourth and Round Rock at eighth. Nine cities in Texas have secured spots in the top 50 rankings, with the majority situated in the southern region.
Conroe notably excelled in terms of housing affordability and apartment quality, achieving a remarkable 7th place nationally in the housing and cost of living category. Approximately three-quarters of the rentals in the city fall into the high-end category, with the average apartment measuring 937 square feet. In contrast, Houston placed 53rd in that category, with just 50% of its rentals classified as high-end and an average rental size of 865 square feet.
Conroe has achieved a notable ranking in the local economy, ranking 69th overall. This is primarily attributed to its impressively low unemployment rate of 3.3%, which stands as the sixth lowest among the 150 cities examined, alongside a steady job growth rate of 1.2%. Houston, struggling with a rising unemployment rate, ranked 98th in that specific category.
Conroe surpassed Houston in terms of renter quality of life, achieving a rank of 70th, while Houston fell to 99th. Approximately 34% of the apartments in Conroe are located in highly rated neighborhoods. Nonetheless, the report highlighted that a significant number of renters in Conroe rely heavily on cars, with more than half traveling over 30 minutes to reach their workplaces. Houston's diminished position was linked to persistent challenges regarding air quality and restricted availability of natural resources.
The 2025 results showcase Conroe’s increasing attractiveness as a budget-friendly, high-quality choice for renters seeking alternatives to larger metropolitan areas such as Houston.
