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National ranking · 150 entries

Rent Control Cities, 2026 Master List.

US cities that have a local rent-control or rent-stabilization ordinance today, sit under a statewide rent cap (CA, OR, WA), or are plausible near-term targets in a state where local rent control is still legally possible. The 31 states that preempt — outright ban — local rent control are excluded, so a high-rent-burden suburb in Louisiana or Texas will not appear here.

Worst cities Best cities Worst states Best states Least affordable for renters Rent-control cities
Top city
Los Angeles
10.0 · CA
Average RC Risk
9.4
across 150 entries
Most-represented state
CA
111 of 150 on this list
Average rent · list
$1,997
per month
Ranking · top 150
Ranked by rent-control risk · highest first
Click a column to sort
# City↕ County↕ Population↕ RC Risk↕ Rent Burden↕ Status↕ Lean↕
001 Los Angeles CA Los Angeles County 3,857,263 10.0 35.0% Ordinance Dem
002 San Francisco CA San Francisco County 830,235 10.0 25.1% Ordinance Dem
003 Oakland CA Alameda County 439,418 10.0 30.6% Ordinance Dem
004 San Jose CA Santa Clara County 990,138 9.5 30.1% Ordinance Dem
005 Washington DC District of Columbia County 681,294 9.5 28.6% Ordinance Dem
006 Glen Cove NY Nassau County 28,112 9.1 38.8% Ordinance Dem
007 Glendale CA Los Angeles County 190,748 9.0 37.8% Ordinance Dem
008 Mountain View CA Contra Costa County 83,732 8.9 23.1% Ordinance Dem
009 East Palo Alto CA San Mateo County 29,069 8.9 34.9% Ordinance Dem
010 Floral Park NY Nassau County 16,169 8.9 32.1% Ordinance Dem
011 Palm Springs CA Riverside County 45,070 8.7 38.0% Ordinance Dem
012 Antioch CA Contra Costa County 116,477 8.6 37.3% Ordinance Dem
013 Bell Gardens CA Los Angeles County 38,229 8.6 33.5% Ordinance Dem
014 Newburgh NY Orange County 28,519 8.6 36.3% Ordinance IND
015 St. Paul MN Ramsey County 307,284 8.5 30.0% Ordinance Dem
016 Jersey City NJ Hudson County 294,078 8.5 27.5% Ordinance Dem
017 Yonkers NY Westchester County 209,978 8.5 32.7% Ordinance Dem
018 Spring Valley NY Rockland County 33,192 8.5 37.8% Ordinance IND
019 Cudahy CA Los Angeles County 22,087 8.5 35.7% Ordinance Dem
020 Poughkeepsie NY Dutchess County 31,958 8.4 36.8% Ordinance Dem
021 Concord CA Contra Costa County 124,035 8.3 36.2% Ordinance Dem
022 San Rafael CA Marin County 60,433 8.3 36.0% Ordinance Dem
023 Pomona CA Los Angeles County 147,943 8.2 36.0% Ordinance Dem
024 Richmond CA Contra Costa County 115,505 8.2 34.5% Ordinance Dem
025 Inglewood CA Los Angeles County 104,569 8.2 35.5% Ordinance Dem
026 Chula Vista CA San Diego County 276,375 8.1 35.4% Ordinance Dem
027 San Diego CA San Diego County 1,389,526 8.0 32.4% Ordinance Dem
028 Santa Ana CA Orange County 312,534 8.0 31.9% Ordinance Dem
029 Oxnard CA Ventura County 200,928 8.0 34.0% Ordinance Dem
030 Baldwin Park CA Los Angeles County 70,138 8.0 33.4% Ordinance Dem
031 White Plains NY Westchester County 60,666 8.0 31.7% Ordinance Dem
032 Petaluma CA Sonoma County 59,247 8.0 33.7% Ordinance Dem
033 Burbank CA Los Angeles County 104,546 7.9 34.3% Ordinance Dem
034 Huntington Park CA Los Angeles County 53,108 7.9 34.2% Ordinance Dem
035 Thousand Oaks CA Ventura County 125,205 7.8 32.9% Ordinance Dem
036 Kingston NY Ulster County 23,911 7.8 34.5% Ordinance Dem
037 Takoma Park MD Montgomery County 17,632 7.8 32.6% Ordinance Dem
038 Berkeley CA Alameda County 120,257 7.7 34.0% Ordinance Dem
039 Beverly Hills CA Los Angeles County 31,624 7.7 33.0% Ordinance Dem
040 Maywood CA Los Angeles County 24,317 7.7 33.5% Ordinance Dem
041 Eastchester NY Westchester County 20,491 7.6 34.5% Ordinance Dem
042 Albany NY Albany County 100,492 7.5 30.8% Ordinance Dem
043 Mount Vernon NY Westchester County 72,427 7.4 32.1% Ordinance Dem
044 Salinas CA Monterey County 161,761 7.3 32.2% Ordinance Dem
045 Hayward CA Alameda County 158,801 7.3 31.9% Ordinance Dem
046 Freeport NY Nassau County 44,088 7.3 31.7% Ordinance Dem
047 Harrison NY Westchester County 29,961 7.3 32.8% Ordinance Dem
048 San Leandro CA Alameda County 87,826 7.2 32.5% Ordinance Dem
049 Marina CA Monterey County 22,563 7.2 29.6% Ordinance Dem
050 New York NY Kings County 8,483,844 6.9 31.3% Ordinance Dem
051 New Rochelle NY Westchester County 82,769 6.9 30.5% Ordinance Dem
052 Long Beach NY Nassau County 34,756 6.9 31.6% Ordinance Dem
053 Pasadena CA Los Angeles County 136,969 6.6 31.5% Ordinance Dem
054 Port Chester NY Westchester County 31,102 6.5 31.1% Ordinance Dem
055 Rockville Centre NY Nassau County 25,765 6.5 31.3% Ordinance Dem
056 Culver City CA Los Angeles County 39,931 6.2 31.2% Ordinance Dem
057 Atlantic City NJ Atlantic County 38,632 6.2 33.6% Ordinance Dem
058 West Hollywood CA Los Angeles County 34,884 6.0 27.9% Ordinance Dem
059 Santa Monica CA Los Angeles County 91,169 5.6 27.5% Ordinance Dem
060 Portland ME Cumberland County 68,854 5.5 30.6% Ordinance Dem
061 Union City NJ Hudson County 66,463 5.5 32.3% Ordinance Dem
062 Union City CA Alameda County 67,464 5.4 28.8% Ordinance Dem
063 Mineola NY Nassau County 21,211 5.3 27.9% Ordinance Dem
064 Alameda CA Alameda County 77,238 5.1 27.9% Ordinance Dem
065 Fremont CA Alameda County 228,295 4.9 27.3% Ordinance Dem
066 Lynbrook NY Nassau County 20,325 4.8 29.7% Ordinance Dem
067 Palo Alto CA Santa Clara County 67,237 4.4 26.6% Ordinance Dem
068 Los Gatos CA Santa Clara County 32,786 4.2 27.0% Ordinance Dem
069 Erie PA Erie County 93,850 3.5 32.9% Ordinance IND
070 Calabasas CA Los Angeles County 22,669 9.6 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
071 San Luis Obispo CA San Luis Obispo County 48,491 9.5 44.7% Statewide cap Dem
072 Phelan CA San Bernardino County 18,496 9.5 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
073 Laguna Woods CA Orange County 17,289 9.5 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
074 Camp Pendleton South CA Orange County 15,766 9.5 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
075 Fort Lewis WA Pierce County 15,167 9.5 47.2% Statewide cap Dem
076 Castaic CA Los Angeles County 17,999 9.4 46.7% Statewide cap Dem
077 Westmont CA Los Angeles County 34,123 9.3 44.6% Statewide cap Dem
078 Stanford CA Santa Clara County 18,662 9.3 42.5% Statewide cap Dem
079 Pullman WA Whitman County 32,229 9.2 43.5% Statewide cap Dem
080 East Niles CA Kern County 28,532 9.2 43.7% Statewide cap Rep
081 South El Monte CA Los Angeles County 19,287 9.2 39.2% Statewide cap Dem
082 Rancho Mirage CA Riverside County 17,563 9.2 42.5% Statewide cap Dem
083 Bostonia CA San Diego County 16,765 9.2 35.6% Statewide cap Dem
084 El Cajon CA San Diego County 104,449 9.1 42.3% Statewide cap Dem
085 Davis CA Yolo County 66,978 9.1 45.7% Statewide cap Dem
086 San Fernando CA Los Angeles County 23,632 9.1 40.2% Statewide cap Dem
087 Clearlake CA Lake County 16,659 9.1 45.4% Statewide cap Dem
088 Seattle WA King County 754,195 9.0 27.4% Statewide cap Dem
089 Long Beach CA Los Angeles County 455,548 9.0 32.8% Statewide cap Dem
090 Victorville CA San Bernardino County 137,627 9.0 39.4% Statewide cap Dem
091 Corvallis OR Benton County 59,960 9.0 40.2% Statewide cap Dem
092 Desert Hot Springs CA Riverside County 33,200 9.0 37.3% Statewide cap Dem
093 Des Moines WA King County 32,823 9.0 39.8% Statewide cap Dem
094 Palmdale CA Los Angeles County 164,634 8.9 40.0% Statewide cap Dem
095 Westminster CA Orange County 89,860 8.9 37.0% Statewide cap Dem
096 Highland CA San Bernardino County 56,675 8.9 39.2% Statewide cap Dem
097 Fountain Valley CA Orange County 56,258 8.9 38.8% Statewide cap Dem
098 Diamond Bar CA Los Angeles County 53,355 8.9 38.8% Statewide cap Dem
099 Seaside CA Monterey County 31,814 8.9 38.6% Statewide cap Dem
100 Lemon Grove CA San Diego County 27,686 8.9 36.1% Statewide cap Dem
101 Arcata CA Humboldt County 18,607 8.9 40.0% Statewide cap Dem
102 La Palma CA Orange County 15,272 8.9 36.9% Statewide cap Dem
103 San Bernardino CA San Bernardino County 222,724 8.8 37.6% Statewide cap Dem
104 Escondido CA San Diego County 149,668 8.8 36.5% Statewide cap Dem
105 Simi Valley CA Ventura County 125,634 8.8 35.8% Statewide cap Dem
106 Menifee CA Riverside County 110,305 8.8 39.5% Statewide cap Dem
107 Camarillo CA Ventura County 70,186 8.8 37.4% Statewide cap Dem
108 Santee CA San Diego County 59,332 8.8 40.3% Statewide cap Dem
109 San Jacinto CA Riverside County 55,180 8.8 40.6% Statewide cap Dem
110 West Puente Valley CA Los Angeles County 22,495 8.8 37.7% Statewide cap Dem
111 Bryn Mawr-Skyway WA King County 17,638 8.8 40.8% Statewide cap Dem
112 McKinleyville CA Humboldt County 17,113 8.8 37.9% Statewide cap Dem
113 Moraga CA Contra Costa County 16,769 8.8 39.3% Statewide cap Dem
114 Bellingham WA Whatcom County 93,438 8.7 37.2% Statewide cap Dem
115 Hemet CA Riverside County 91,326 8.7 39.1% Statewide cap Dem
116 Pittsburg CA Contra Costa County 76,257 8.7 39.1% Statewide cap Dem
117 Apple Valley CA San Bernardino County 75,473 8.7 36.8% Statewide cap Dem
118 Ladera Ranch CA Orange County 23,793 8.7 36.9% Statewide cap Dem
119 Union Hill-Novelty Hill WA King County 23,047 8.7 32.5% Statewide cap Dem
120 Pinole CA Contra Costa County 18,761 8.7 47.8% Statewide cap Dem
121 Fillmore CA Ventura County 16,816 8.7 37.3% Statewide cap Dem
122 Moreno Valley CA Riverside County 211,666 8.6 35.9% Statewide cap Dem
123 Chico CA Butte County 102,188 8.6 38.3% Statewide cap IND
124 Hesperia CA San Bernardino County 100,775 8.6 34.8% Statewide cap Dem
125 Lynwood CA Los Angeles County 64,578 8.6 35.3% Statewide cap Dem
126 Stanton CA Orange County 39,402 8.6 36.4% Statewide cap Dem
127 Montclair CA San Bernardino County 37,810 8.6 36.9% Statewide cap Dem
128 San Dimas CA Los Angeles County 33,789 8.6 38.6% Statewide cap Dem
129 Bell CA Los Angeles County 32,476 8.6 40.3% Statewide cap Dem
130 Eastmont WA Snohomish County 23,721 8.6 37.3% Statewide cap Dem
131 Yucca Valley CA San Bernardino County 21,770 8.6 37.2% Statewide cap Dem
132 Rancho San Diego CA San Diego County 21,272 8.6 38.5% Statewide cap Dem
133 Portland OR Multnomah County 641,165 8.5 31.4% Statewide cap Dem
134 Sacramento CA Sacramento County 528,706 8.5 32.8% Statewide cap Dem
135 Santa Clarita CA Los Angeles County 230,221 8.5 35.8% Statewide cap Dem
136 Fullerton CA Orange County 140,968 8.5 36.5% Statewide cap Dem
137 Fairfield CA Solano County 120,785 8.5 39.7% Statewide cap Dem
138 El Monte CA Los Angeles County 106,109 8.5 35.4% Statewide cap Dem
139 Arden-Arcade CA Sacramento County 94,994 8.5 35.9% Statewide cap Dem
140 San Marcos CA San Diego County 94,882 8.5 37.0% Statewide cap Dem
141 Compton CA Los Angeles County 92,698 8.5 35.9% Statewide cap Dem
142 La Mesa CA San Diego County 60,797 8.5 35.1% Statewide cap Dem
143 Florence-Graham CA Los Angeles County 60,690 8.5 35.7% Statewide cap Dem
144 North Highlands CA Sacramento County 47,957 8.5 36.1% Statewide cap Dem
145 Adelanto CA San Bernardino County 37,964 8.5 36.2% Statewide cap Dem
146 Foothill Farms CA Sacramento County 36,435 8.5 37.4% Statewide cap Dem
147 Banning CA Riverside County 31,093 8.5 35.8% Statewide cap Dem
148 Happy Valley OR Clackamas County 26,738 8.5 35.4% Statewide cap Dem
149 Port Hueneme CA Ventura County 21,582 8.5 35.4% Statewide cap Dem
150 Rosamond CA Kern County 21,473 8.5 33.9% Statewide cap Rep

How the ranking is built

Rent control is set locally, but whether a city is even allowed to enact it is set by the state. Thirty-one states preempt — outright ban — local rent control, so a high-rent-burden city in Louisiana, Texas, or Florida cannot adopt a rent cap no matter how strained its renters are. This list therefore filters on the law first, then on pressure. A city qualifies only if it (a) already has a local rent-stabilization ordinance, (b) sits under a statewide rent cap (California, Oregon, and Washington each cap annual increases statewide), or (c) is in one of the remaining states where local rent control is still legally possible. Each row is tagged Ordinance, Statewide cap, or Emerging accordingly.

The RC Risk score (1–10) is a national percentile of rent burden combined with tenant organizing strength (renter share) and political climate — it ranks how much rent-control pressure a city is under. Established jurisdictions (New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Berkeley, Washington DC, Newark, East Orange, St. Paul) sort to the top because rent control is already in force; emerging cities follow, ordered by that pressure. We exclude preemption states entirely rather than listing places where the score is high but enactment is legally impossible. Click any city for its specific rent-control sub-score and 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.