Youngstown Ranks as Top Small Rental Market in October
Youngstown secures the number one spot in recent housing market reports due to high demand and limited apartment availability.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Apartments
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Youngstown topped the October 2026 Cotality housing market report and earned the title of most competitive small rental market from RentCafe. The city has emerged as a high-demand area with an apartment occupancy rate of 96 percent.
Why it matters
The high competition reflects a local housing crunch where an average of 17 prospective renters vie for every available apartment unit. This trend highlights the significant imbalance between current supply and the number of people seeking housing in the area.
Youngstown holds a Rental Competitiveness Index score of 87.6 with an average monthly rent of $1,060. The city maintains a 96% apartment occupancy rate, significantly lower than the national average rent of $1,771.
The players
Cotality
This organization maintains a database of over 5.5 billion U.S. property records, parcel boundaries, and historical price trends.
RentCafe
This firm provides market analysis focusing on apartment occupancy rates and prospective renter competition.
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Housing Council
This entity oversees regional development initiatives, including the plan to construct 1,000 new housing units by 2030.
The details
Data from Cotality, which tracks over 5.5 billion property records and tax transactions, placed Youngstown at the top of its market list six times throughout 2026. RentCafe analysis supports these findings, noting that the intensity of the rental market is driven by a scarcity of vacancies relative to the number of interested applicants.
Timeline
Youngstown achieved the top ranking in the October 2026 Cotality report.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Housing Council aims to build 1,000 additional homes by 2030.
Culture Shift
The rise of Youngstown in the RentCafe Rental Competitiveness Index signals a broader national shift where smaller secondary markets are experiencing intensified competition for residential inventory. This trend reflects a departure from traditional migration patterns toward large metros as renters prioritize smaller, more affordable locales.
Prospective renters in Youngstown should prepare for high competition, as 17 applicants currently pursue each available unit. Residents looking to move may face a challenging environment where vacancies are quickly filled due to the 96% occupancy rate.
The takeaway
The competitive rental market in Youngstown underscores the immediate need for the planned construction of 1,000 new homes. Residents should anticipate sustained pressure on available rental inventory as the region continues to attract significant housing demand.
What happens next
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Housing Council is working toward a goal of constructing 1,000 additional homes in the region by 2030.
Further reading
For more information on the current state of local housing, browse our Youngstown Apartments section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFMJ.
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