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ingle‑family rents in the United States rose only 1.4 % in August 2025 compared with the same month a year earlier, according to Cotality’s latest Single‑Family Rent Index. The increase is the slowest annual growth in more than 15 years, falling to less than half the 3 % rise recorded a year ago.

    “Annual single‑family rent growth fell to its lowest level in over 15 years this August, underscoring a notable shift in the rental market,” said Molly Boesel, senior principal economist at Cotality. “Growth is slowing across all price tiers and many major metros, although the pattern is not uniform.”

    Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles bucked the trend, posting comparatively stronger gains. Los Angeles, now just above pre‑wildfire levels from January, ranked second among the top 10 metros for rent growth, reflecting the continuing impact of recovery efforts, a tight housing supply and local economic conditions.

    Across price tiers, high‑end and low‑end single‑family rents rose modestly. Luxury homes increased 1.6 % year‑over‑year in August, down from 3.3 % in August 2024. Low‑end units grew 1.1 %, compared with 2.8 % a year earlier. Detached homes rose 1.5 %, while attached units climbed 1 %.

    Metro‑level trends were uneven. Chicago led the top 10 markets with a 4.7 % year‑over‑year rise, followed by Los Angeles (2.8 %), Philadelphia (2.7 %), Washington, D.C. (2.6 %) and Atlanta (1.9 %). Dallas saw rents decline 0.6 % in August and remain largely flat over the past year, a result of new multifamily supply boosting renter bargaining power.