Rent Control Cities — 2026 Master List
US cities with the highest rent-control risk score: existing rent stabilization ordinances, rent caps, or high likelihood of near-term enactment based on political climate, rent burden, and tenant organizing strength. Ranked by rent_control_risk sub-score (percentile of rent-burden nationally).
| # | City | County | Population | RC Risk | Rent Burden | Primary Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | 3,857,263 | 10.0 | 35.0% | 9.2 | |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | 830,235 | 10.0 | 25.1% | 9.6 | |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | 439,418 | 10.0 | 30.6% | 9.4 | |
| 4 | The Villages, FL | Sumter County | 83,498 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 1.7 |
| 5 | East Lansing, MI | Ingham County | 45,758 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.4 |
| 6 | West Lafayette, IN | Tippecanoe County | 45,159 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 2.9 |
| 7 | Kiryas Joel, NY | Orange County | 38,916 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 6.2 |
| 8 | Central, LA | East Baton Rouge Parish | 29,783 | 9.6 | 48.8% | 2.9 |
| 9 | Shirley, NY | Suffolk County | 28,375 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.3 |
| 10 | Monsey, NY | Rockland County | 28,160 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.4 |
| 11 | Columbine, CO | Jefferson County | 25,478 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 3.6 |
| 12 | Calabasas, CA | Los Angeles County | 22,669 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 5.5 |
| 13 | Murphy, TX | Collin County | 21,188 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 2.7 |
| 14 | South Holland, IL | Cook County | 20,911 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.6 |
| 15 | Boone, NC | Watauga County | 20,032 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 3.4 |
| 16 | Zachary, LA | East Baton Rouge Parish | 19,952 | 9.6 | 34.1% | 3.2 |
| 17 | Ocean Acres, NJ | Ocean County | 19,204 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.9 |
| 18 | Five Forks, SC | Greenville County | 18,656 | 9.6 | 48.1% | 1.8 |
| 19 | Shorewood, IL | Kendall County | 18,343 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.6 |
| 20 | North Valley Stream, NY | Nassau County | 17,825 | 9.6 | 27.1% | 4.5 |
| 21 | Gretna, LA | Orleans Parish | 17,389 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 3.1 |
| 22 | Islip, NY | Nassau County | 17,362 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.6 |
| 23 | Mastic Beach, NY | Suffolk County | 16,735 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.3 |
| 24 | Dyer, IN | Lake County | 16,400 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 2.8 |
| 25 | Schofield Barracks, HI | Honolulu County | 16,270 | 9.6 | 48.4% | 5.0 |
| 26 | Storrs, CT | Tolland County | 15,207 | 9.6 | 51.0% | 4.6 |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | 990,138 | 9.5 | 30.1% | 8.8 | |
| 28 | Washington, DC | 681,294 | 9.5 | 28.6% | 9.0 | |
| 29 | Apopka, FL | Lake County | 58,232 | 9.5 | 43.0% | 3.4 |
| 30 | San Luis Obispo, CA | San Luis Obispo County | 48,491 | 9.5 | 44.7% | 6.1 |
| 31 | Sun City Center, FL | Hillsborough County | 33,548 | 9.5 | 51.0% | 1.4 |
| 32 | Athens, OH | Athens County | 23,396 | 9.5 | 45.1% | 3.3 |
| 33 | Roosevelt, NY | Nassau County | 18,885 | 9.5 | 40.1% | 4.7 |
| 34 | Phelan, CA | Los Angeles County | 18,496 | 9.5 | 51.0% | 4.2 |
| 35 | Laguna Woods, CA | Orange County | 17,289 | 9.5 | 51.0% | 5.4 |
| 36 | Aldine, TX | Harris County | 17,167 | 9.5 | 47.7% | 1.4 |
| 37 | Red Oak, TX | Ellis County | 17,077 | 9.5 | 42.7% | 2.3 |
| 38 | Estelle, LA | Orleans Parish | 16,341 | 9.5 | 51.0% | 2.0 |
| 39 | Camp Pendleton South, CA | Orange County | 15,766 | 9.5 | 51.0% | 4.3 |
| 40 | Fort Lewis, WA | Thurston County | 15,167 | 9.5 | 47.2% | 4.2 |
| 41 | Lakewood, NJ | Monmouth County | 69,585 | 9.4 | 49.1% | 5.3 |
| 42 | Tamiami, FL | Miami-Dade County | 49,752 | 9.4 | 49.6% | 1.5 |
| 43 | Blacksburg, VA | Montgomery County | 45,446 | 9.4 | 44.1% | 4.2 |
| 44 | East Meadow, NY | Nassau County | 36,821 | 9.4 | 46.9% | 4.6 |
| 45 | Centereach, NY | Suffolk County | 31,839 | 9.4 | 49.9% | 4.4 |
| 46 | Ives Estates, FL | Broward County | 28,506 | 9.4 | 40.7% | 1.8 |
| 47 | The Crossings, FL | Miami-Dade County | 22,963 | 9.4 | 47.0% | 1.9 |
| 48 | Green Valley, AZ | Santa Cruz County | 22,114 | 9.4 | 45.2% | 2.3 |
| 49 | Harvey, LA | Orleans Parish | 20,915 | 9.4 | 42.6% | 2.1 |
| 50 | Naples, FL | Collier County | 19,704 | 9.4 | 43.4% | 2.8 |
| 51 | Castaic, CA | Los Angeles County | 17,999 | 9.4 | 46.7% | 4.5 |
| 52 | Lake Butler, FL | Union County | 17,125 | 9.4 | 51.0% | 2.0 |
| 53 | Kings Park, NY | Nassau County | 16,516 | 9.4 | 35.7% | 4.3 |
| 54 | Loganville, GA | Walton County | 15,527 | 9.4 | 43.3% | 3.0 |
| 55 | Boulder, CO | Boulder County | 106,433 | 9.3 | 44.1% | 8.2 |
| 56 | Kissimmee, FL | Orange County | 81,479 | 9.3 | 43.1% | 3.5 |
| 57 | Lauderhill, FL | Broward County | 74,896 | 9.3 | 44.8% | 3.6 |
| 58 | Tamarac, FL | Broward County | 73,019 | 9.3 | 43.1% | 3.4 |
| 59 | North Lauderdale, FL | Broward County | 45,234 | 9.3 | 47.0% | 3.3 |
| 60 | State College, PA | Centre County | 41,050 | 9.3 | 43.2% | 4.1 |
| 61 | Lauderdale Lakes, FL | Broward County | 36,404 | 9.3 | 45.7% | 3.0 |
| 62 | College Park, MD | Prince George's County | 34,540 | 9.3 | 46.4% | 5.7 |
| 63 | Westmont, CA | Los Angeles County | 34,123 | 9.3 | 44.6% | 4.5 |
| 64 | Ithaca, NY | Tompkins County | 32,814 | 9.3 | 41.3% | 8.6 |
| 65 | Sun City West, AZ | Maricopa County | 27,425 | 9.3 | 42.2% | 2.0 |
| 66 | Plainview, NY | Nassau County | 25,982 | 9.3 | 34.3% | 4.6 |
| 67 | Homer Glen, IL | Will County | 24,529 | 9.3 | 45.3% | 4.8 |
| 68 | Sunny Isles Beach, FL | Broward County | 22,437 | 9.3 | 43.8% | 3.1 |
| 69 | Helena, AL | Shelby County | 21,769 | 9.3 | 44.7% | 2.2 |
| 70 | Hammond, LA | Tangipahoa Parish | 21,539 | 9.3 | 40.6% | 2.8 |
| 71 | Dolton, IL | Cook County | 20,825 | 9.3 | 47.6% | 4.6 |
| 72 | Tinton Falls, NJ | Monmouth County | 19,361 | 9.3 | 43.6% | 6.0 |
| 73 | Ojus, FL | Broward County | 19,198 | 9.3 | 42.7% | 1.6 |
| 74 | Stanford, CA | San Mateo County | 18,662 | 9.3 | 42.5% | 4.3 |
| 75 | Steiner Ranch, TX | Travis County | 18,619 | 9.3 | 43.6% | 1.4 |
| 76 | Wildwood, FL | Sumter County | 17,608 | 9.3 | 45.0% | 2.9 |
| 77 | Lake Wales, FL | Polk County | 16,785 | 9.3 | 40.6% | 3.0 |
| 78 | Deerfield Beach, FL | Broward County | 88,093 | 9.2 | 42.2% | 3.3 |
| 79 | Poinciana, FL | Polk County | 75,068 | 9.2 | 39.5% | 1.8 |
| 80 | North Miami, FL | Broward County | 60,344 | 9.2 | 42.6% | 3.3 |
| 81 | Margate, FL | Broward County | 59,198 | 9.2 | 41.5% | 3.4 |
| 82 | Sicklerville, NJ | Camden County | 44,998 | 9.2 | 42.0% | 5.0 |
| 83 | Aventura, FL | Broward County | 39,885 | 9.2 | 43.3% | 3.0 |
| 84 | Parkland, FL | Broward County | 37,178 | 9.2 | 44.2% | 3.1 |
| 85 | West Little River, FL | Miami-Dade County | 33,890 | 9.2 | 37.0% | 1.8 |
| 86 | Pullman, WA | Whitman County | 32,229 | 9.2 | 43.5% | 5.7 |
| 87 | Morgantown, WV | Monongalia County | 30,236 | 9.2 | 40.7% | 4.5 |
| 88 | East Niles, CA | Kern County | 28,532 | 9.2 | 43.7% | 4.3 |
| 89 | Hialeah Gardens, FL | Miami-Dade County | 22,915 | 9.2 | 41.8% | 2.9 |
| 90 | South El Monte, CA | Los Angeles County | 19,287 | 9.2 | 39.2% | 5.7 |
| 91 | Jenison, MI | Kent County | 17,582 | 9.2 | 45.7% | 2.7 |
| 92 | Rancho Mirage, CA | Riverside County | 17,563 | 9.2 | 42.5% | 5.8 |
| 93 | Bostonia, CA | San Diego County | 16,765 | 9.2 | 35.6% | 4.3 |
| 94 | El Cajon, CA | San Diego County | 104,449 | 9.1 | 42.3% | 6.1 |
| 95 | Doral, FL | Miami-Dade County | 79,216 | 9.1 | 42.5% | 3.5 |
| 96 | Davis, CA | Yolo County | 66,978 | 9.1 | 45.7% | 8.5 |
| 97 | The Hammocks, FL | Miami-Dade County | 58,838 | 9.1 | 42.7% | 1.4 |
| 98 | DeSoto, TX | Dallas County | 56,211 | 9.1 | 39.6% | 3.2 |
| 99 | Cedar Hill, TX | Dallas County | 48,879 | 9.1 | 37.1% | 2.9 |
| 100 | Myrtle Beach, SC | Horry County | 38,371 | 9.1 | 36.1% | 3.0 |
| 101 | Leesburg, FL | Sumter County | 30,807 | 9.1 | 40.3% | 3.0 |
| 102 | Glen Cove, NY | Nassau County | 28,112 | 9.1 | 38.8% | 5.9 |
| 103 | San Fernando, CA | Los Angeles County | 23,632 | 9.1 | 40.2% | 5.7 |
| 104 | Ruston, LA | Lincoln Parish | 22,284 | 9.1 | 46.3% | 2.9 |
| 105 | Makakilo, HI | Honolulu County | 20,735 | 9.1 | 40.8% | 5.2 |
| 106 | Seagoville, TX | Dallas County | 19,352 | 9.1 | 40.2% | 2.5 |
| 107 | Clearlake, CA | Lake County | 16,659 | 9.1 | 45.4% | 5.8 |
| 108 | Country Club Hills, IL | Will County | 16,324 | 9.1 | 46.6% | 4.6 |
| 109 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | 9.0 | 27.4% | 8.8 | |
| 110 | Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | 9.0 | 32.8% | 8.5 | |
| 111 | Newark, NJ | 310,178 | 9.0 | 33.7% | 8.0 | |
| 112 | Glendale, CA | Los Angeles County | 190,748 | 9.0 | 37.8% | 6.3 |
| 113 | Gainesville, FL | Alachua County | 145,702 | 9.0 | 42.9% | 5.7 |
| 114 | Victorville, CA | Orange County | 137,627 | 9.0 | 39.4% | 5.1 |
| 115 | Miami Gardens, FL | Broward County | 113,177 | 9.0 | 38.5% | 3.7 |
| 116 | Auburn, AL | Lee County | 80,594 | 9.0 | 38.9% | 3.4 |
| 117 | Corvallis, OR | Benton County | 59,960 | 9.0 | 40.2% | 6.3 |
| 118 | Monroe, LA | Ouachita Parish | 47,004 | 9.0 | 41.5% | 3.2 |
| 119 | North Miami Beach, FL | Broward County | 43,898 | 9.0 | 39.5% | 3.1 |
| 120 | Princeton, FL | Miami-Dade County | 42,625 | 9.0 | 44.1% | 1.5 |
| 121 | Lancaster, TX | Dallas County | 40,820 | 9.0 | 42.7% | 3.1 |
| 122 | DeKalb, IL | DeKalb County | 40,443 | 9.0 | 40.7% | 4.8 |
| 123 | Duncanville, TX | Dallas County | 39,683 | 9.0 | 38.7% | 2.8 |
| 124 | Central Islip, NY | Nassau County | 38,373 | 9.0 | 40.6% | 4.6 |
| 125 | Desert Hot Springs, CA | Riverside County | 33,200 | 9.0 | 37.3% | 5.7 |
| 126 | Uniondale, NY | Nassau County | 33,148 | 9.0 | 35.2% | 4.6 |
| 127 | Des Moines, WA | Pierce County | 32,823 | 9.0 | 39.8% | 5.4 |
| 128 | Huntington Station, NY | Nassau County | 32,601 | 9.0 | 24.2% | 4.6 |
| 129 | Springfield, VA | Fairfax County | 31,154 | 9.0 | 41.4% | 2.7 |
| 130 | East Haven, CT | New Haven County | 27,806 | 9.0 | 35.6% | 4.4 |
| 131 | Lindenhurst, NY | Nassau County | 27,142 | 9.0 | 33.3% | 6.0 |
| 132 | Bridgeton, NJ | Cumberland County | 27,001 | 9.0 | 31.5% | 6.2 |
| 133 | Starkville, MS | Oktibbeha County | 25,721 | 9.0 | 38.5% | 2.6 |
| 134 | Edgewater, FL | Volusia County | 23,627 | 9.0 | 40.8% | 2.9 |
| 135 | Holiday, FL | Pasco County | 22,785 | 9.0 | 45.5% | 1.5 |
| 136 | Columbia Heights, MN | Ramsey County | 22,155 | 9.0 | 43.8% | 4.6 |
| 137 | Pascagoula, MS | Jackson County | 21,710 | 9.0 | 37.8% | 2.5 |
| 138 | Dover, NJ | Morris County | 18,563 | 9.0 | 39.1% | 5.8 |
| 139 | Bellwood, IL | DuPage County | 18,256 | 9.0 | 33.3% | 4.5 |
| 140 | Troy, AL | Pike County | 17,716 | 9.0 | 34.3% | 2.5 |
| 141 | Three Lakes, FL | Miami-Dade County | 16,888 | 9.0 | 39.5% | 1.5 |
| 142 | Lady Lake, FL | Sumter County | 16,675 | 9.0 | 41.8% | 2.7 |
| 143 | Marco Island, FL | Collier County | 16,205 | 9.0 | 49.2% | 3.0 |
| 144 | Greenlawn, NY | Nassau County | 15,210 | 9.0 | 35.7% | 4.4 |
| 145 | Palmdale, CA | Los Angeles County | 164,634 | 8.9 | 40.0% | 5.7 |
| 146 | Hollywood, FL | Broward County | 155,082 | 8.9 | 39.7% | 4.3 |
| 147 | College Station, TX | Brazos County | 124,570 | 8.9 | 39.4% | 3.0 |
| 148 | Boca Raton, FL | Broward County | 100,234 | 8.9 | 39.9% | 3.3 |
| 149 | Sunrise, FL | Broward County | 97,918 | 8.9 | 37.5% | 3.4 |
| 150 | Westminster, CA | Orange County | 89,860 | 8.9 | 37.0% | 6.4 |
How the ranking is built
Rent-control risk is a 1–10 national percentile of rent burden combined with tenant organizing strength (renter share) and state political climate. A score of 8+ indicates either (a) active rent stabilization / rent cap ordinances today, or (b) high probability of enactment within the next 1–2 legislative cycles given the fundamentals. Cities in deep-blue counties with high rent burden are the most likely near-term targets.
We cover established rent-control jurisdictions (NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Berkeley, Washington DC, Newark, East Orange) alongside emerging ones where the political math has shifted in recent elections. Click any city for the specific rent-control sub-score and its inputs.
Sources
US Census ACS 2023 5-year (poverty, unemployment, rent burden, median gross rent, renter share), 2024 Census Gazetteer (geometry), MIT Election Lab 2020 county presidential returns, state landlord-tenant statute citations, HUD cost-burden thresholds. Nothing on this list is synthesized — where a source has no value for a city, it is excluded from that ranking, not filled in.