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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
9.1
across 150 entries
Most-represented state
CA
112 of 150 on this list
Average rent · list
$1,965
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 Glendale CA Los Angeles County 190,748 9.0 37.8% Ordinance Dem
007 Mountain View CA Contra Costa County 83,732 8.9 23.1% Ordinance Dem
008 East Palo Alto CA San Mateo County 29,069 8.9 34.9% Ordinance Dem
009 Floral Park NY Nassau County 16,169 8.9 32.1% Ordinance Dem
010 Palm Springs CA Riverside County 45,070 8.7 38.0% Ordinance Dem
011 Antioch CA Contra Costa County 116,477 8.6 37.3% Ordinance Dem
012 Bell Gardens CA Los Angeles County 38,229 8.6 33.5% Ordinance Dem
013 Newburgh NY Orange County 28,519 8.6 36.3% Ordinance IND
014 St. Paul MN Ramsey County 307,284 8.5 30.0% Ordinance Dem
015 Jersey City NJ Hudson County 294,078 8.5 27.5% Ordinance Dem
016 Yonkers NY Westchester County 209,978 8.5 32.7% Ordinance Dem
017 Spring Valley NY Rockland County 33,192 8.5 37.8% Ordinance IND
018 Cudahy CA Los Angeles County 22,087 8.5 35.7% Ordinance Dem
019 Poughkeepsie NY Dutchess County 31,958 8.4 36.8% Ordinance Dem
020 Concord CA Contra Costa County 124,035 8.3 36.2% Ordinance Dem
021 San Rafael CA Marin County 60,433 8.3 36.0% Ordinance Dem
022 Pomona CA Los Angeles County 147,943 8.2 36.0% Ordinance Dem
023 Richmond CA Contra Costa County 115,505 8.2 34.5% Ordinance Dem
024 Inglewood CA Los Angeles County 104,569 8.2 35.5% Ordinance Dem
025 San Diego CA San Diego County 1,389,526 8.0 32.4% Ordinance Dem
026 Santa Ana CA Orange County 312,534 8.0 31.9% Ordinance Dem
027 Oxnard CA Ventura County 200,928 8.0 34.0% Ordinance Dem
028 Baldwin Park CA Los Angeles County 70,138 8.0 33.4% Ordinance Dem
029 White Plains NY Westchester County 60,666 8.0 31.7% Ordinance Dem
030 Petaluma CA Sonoma County 59,247 8.0 33.7% Ordinance Dem
031 Thousand Oaks CA Ventura County 125,205 7.8 32.9% Ordinance Dem
032 Kingston NY Ulster County 23,911 7.8 34.5% Ordinance Dem
033 Takoma Park MD Montgomery County 17,632 7.8 32.6% Ordinance Dem
034 Berkeley CA Alameda County 120,257 7.7 34.0% Ordinance Dem
035 Beverly Hills CA Los Angeles County 31,624 7.7 33.0% Ordinance Dem
036 Maywood CA Los Angeles County 24,317 7.7 33.5% Ordinance Dem
037 Eastchester NY Westchester County 20,491 7.6 34.5% Ordinance Dem
038 Albany NY Albany County 100,492 7.5 30.8% Ordinance Dem
039 Mount Vernon NY Westchester County 72,427 7.4 32.1% Ordinance Dem
040 Hayward CA Alameda County 158,801 7.3 31.9% Ordinance Dem
041 Freeport NY Nassau County 44,088 7.3 31.7% Ordinance Dem
042 Harrison NY Westchester County 29,961 7.3 32.8% Ordinance Dem
043 New York NY Kings County 8,483,844 6.9 31.3% Ordinance Dem
044 New Rochelle NY Westchester County 82,769 6.9 30.5% Ordinance Dem
045 Long Beach NY Nassau County 34,756 6.9 31.6% Ordinance Dem
046 Pasadena CA Los Angeles County 136,969 6.6 31.5% Ordinance Dem
047 Port Chester NY Westchester County 31,102 6.5 31.1% Ordinance Dem
048 Rockville Centre NY Nassau County 25,765 6.5 31.3% Ordinance Dem
049 Culver City CA Los Angeles County 39,931 6.2 31.2% Ordinance Dem
050 Atlantic City NJ Atlantic County 38,632 6.2 33.6% Ordinance Dem
051 West Hollywood CA Los Angeles County 34,884 6.0 27.9% Ordinance Dem
052 Santa Monica CA Los Angeles County 91,169 5.6 27.5% Ordinance Dem
053 Portland ME Cumberland County 68,854 5.5 30.6% Ordinance Dem
054 Union City NJ Hudson County 66,463 5.5 32.3% Ordinance Dem
055 Union City CA Alameda County 67,464 5.4 28.8% Ordinance Dem
056 Mineola NY Nassau County 21,211 5.3 27.9% Ordinance Dem
057 Alameda CA Alameda County 77,238 5.1 27.9% Ordinance Dem
058 Lynbrook NY Nassau County 20,325 4.8 29.7% Ordinance Dem
059 Palo Alto CA Santa Clara County 67,237 4.4 26.6% Ordinance Dem
060 Los Gatos CA Santa Clara County 32,786 4.2 27.0% Ordinance Dem
061 Calabasas CA Los Angeles County 22,669 9.6 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
062 San Luis Obispo CA San Luis Obispo County 48,491 9.5 44.7% Statewide cap Dem
063 Phelan CA San Bernardino County 18,496 9.5 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
064 Laguna Woods CA Orange County 17,289 9.5 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
065 Camp Pendleton South CA Orange County 15,766 9.5 51.0% Statewide cap Dem
066 Fort Lewis WA Pierce County 15,167 9.5 47.2% Statewide cap Dem
067 Castaic CA Los Angeles County 17,999 9.4 46.7% Statewide cap Dem
068 Westmont CA Los Angeles County 34,123 9.3 44.6% Statewide cap Dem
069 Stanford CA Santa Clara County 18,662 9.3 42.5% Statewide cap Dem
070 Pullman WA Whitman County 32,229 9.2 43.5% Statewide cap Dem
071 East Niles CA Kern County 28,532 9.2 43.7% Statewide cap Rep
072 South El Monte CA Los Angeles County 19,287 9.2 39.2% Statewide cap Dem
073 Rancho Mirage CA Riverside County 17,563 9.2 42.5% Statewide cap Dem
074 Bostonia CA San Diego County 16,765 9.2 35.6% Statewide cap Dem
075 El Cajon CA San Diego County 104,449 9.1 42.3% Statewide cap Dem
076 Davis CA Yolo County 66,978 9.1 45.7% Statewide cap Dem
077 San Fernando CA Los Angeles County 23,632 9.1 40.2% Statewide cap Dem
078 Clearlake CA Lake County 16,659 9.1 45.4% Statewide cap Dem
079 Seattle WA King County 754,195 9.0 27.4% Statewide cap Dem
080 Long Beach CA Los Angeles County 455,548 9.0 32.8% Statewide cap Dem
081 Victorville CA San Bernardino County 137,627 9.0 39.4% Statewide cap Dem
082 Corvallis OR Benton County 59,960 9.0 40.2% Statewide cap Dem
083 Desert Hot Springs CA Riverside County 33,200 9.0 37.3% Statewide cap Dem
084 Des Moines WA King County 32,823 9.0 39.8% Statewide cap Dem
085 Palmdale CA Los Angeles County 164,634 8.9 40.0% Statewide cap Dem
086 Westminster CA Orange County 89,860 8.9 37.0% Statewide cap Dem
087 Highland CA San Bernardino County 56,675 8.9 39.2% Statewide cap Dem
088 Fountain Valley CA Orange County 56,258 8.9 38.8% Statewide cap Dem
089 Diamond Bar CA Los Angeles County 53,355 8.9 38.8% Statewide cap Dem
090 Seaside CA Monterey County 31,814 8.9 38.6% Statewide cap Dem
091 Lemon Grove CA San Diego County 27,686 8.9 36.1% Statewide cap Dem
092 Arcata CA Humboldt County 18,607 8.9 40.0% Statewide cap Dem
093 La Palma CA Orange County 15,272 8.9 36.9% Statewide cap Dem
094 San Bernardino CA San Bernardino County 222,724 8.8 37.6% Statewide cap Dem
095 Escondido CA San Diego County 149,668 8.8 36.5% Statewide cap Dem
096 Simi Valley CA Ventura County 125,634 8.8 35.8% Statewide cap Dem
097 Menifee CA Riverside County 110,305 8.8 39.5% Statewide cap Dem
098 Camarillo CA Ventura County 70,186 8.8 37.4% Statewide cap Dem
099 Santee CA San Diego County 59,332 8.8 40.3% Statewide cap Dem
100 San Jacinto CA Riverside County 55,180 8.8 40.6% Statewide cap Dem
101 West Puente Valley CA Los Angeles County 22,495 8.8 37.7% Statewide cap Dem
102 Bryn Mawr-Skyway WA King County 17,638 8.8 40.8% Statewide cap Dem
103 McKinleyville CA Humboldt County 17,113 8.8 37.9% Statewide cap Dem
104 Moraga CA Contra Costa County 16,769 8.8 39.3% Statewide cap Dem
105 Bellingham WA Whatcom County 93,438 8.7 37.2% Statewide cap Dem
106 Hemet CA Riverside County 91,326 8.7 39.1% Statewide cap Dem
107 Pittsburg CA Contra Costa County 76,257 8.7 39.1% Statewide cap Dem
108 Apple Valley CA San Bernardino County 75,473 8.7 36.8% Statewide cap Dem
109 Ladera Ranch CA Orange County 23,793 8.7 36.9% Statewide cap Dem
110 Union Hill-Novelty Hill WA King County 23,047 8.7 32.5% Statewide cap Dem
111 Pinole CA Contra Costa County 18,761 8.7 47.8% Statewide cap Dem
112 Fillmore CA Ventura County 16,816 8.7 37.3% Statewide cap Dem
113 Moreno Valley CA Riverside County 211,666 8.6 35.9% Statewide cap Dem
114 Chico CA Butte County 102,188 8.6 38.3% Statewide cap IND
115 Hesperia CA San Bernardino County 100,775 8.6 34.8% Statewide cap Dem
116 Lynwood CA Los Angeles County 64,578 8.6 35.3% Statewide cap Dem
117 Stanton CA Orange County 39,402 8.6 36.4% Statewide cap Dem
118 Montclair CA San Bernardino County 37,810 8.6 36.9% Statewide cap Dem
119 San Dimas CA Los Angeles County 33,789 8.6 38.6% Statewide cap Dem
120 Bell CA Los Angeles County 32,476 8.6 40.3% Statewide cap Dem
121 Eastmont WA Snohomish County 23,721 8.6 37.3% Statewide cap Dem
122 Yucca Valley CA San Bernardino County 21,770 8.6 37.2% Statewide cap Dem
123 Rancho San Diego CA San Diego County 21,272 8.6 38.5% Statewide cap Dem
124 Portland OR Multnomah County 641,165 8.5 31.4% Statewide cap Dem
125 Sacramento CA Sacramento County 528,706 8.5 32.8% Statewide cap Dem
126 Santa Clarita CA Los Angeles County 230,221 8.5 35.8% Statewide cap Dem
127 Fullerton CA Orange County 140,968 8.5 36.5% Statewide cap Dem
128 Fairfield CA Solano County 120,785 8.5 39.7% Statewide cap Dem
129 El Monte CA Los Angeles County 106,109 8.5 35.4% Statewide cap Dem
130 Arden-Arcade CA Sacramento County 94,994 8.5 35.9% Statewide cap Dem
131 San Marcos CA San Diego County 94,882 8.5 37.0% Statewide cap Dem
132 Compton CA Los Angeles County 92,698 8.5 35.9% Statewide cap Dem
133 La Mesa CA San Diego County 60,797 8.5 35.1% Statewide cap Dem
134 Florence-Graham CA Los Angeles County 60,690 8.5 35.7% Statewide cap Dem
135 North Highlands CA Sacramento County 47,957 8.5 36.1% Statewide cap Dem
136 Adelanto CA San Bernardino County 37,964 8.5 36.2% Statewide cap Dem
137 Foothill Farms CA Sacramento County 36,435 8.5 37.4% Statewide cap Dem
138 Banning CA Riverside County 31,093 8.5 35.8% Statewide cap Dem
139 Happy Valley OR Clackamas County 26,738 8.5 35.4% Statewide cap Dem
140 Port Hueneme CA Ventura County 21,582 8.5 35.4% Statewide cap Dem
141 Rosamond CA Kern County 21,473 8.5 33.9% Statewide cap Rep
142 Valle Vista CA Riverside County 18,602 8.5 32.8% Statewide cap Dem
143 Chino Hills CA San Bernardino County 77,927 8.4 34.5% Statewide cap Dem
144 Montebello CA Los Angeles County 61,045 8.4 35.2% Statewide cap Dem
145 Paramount CA Los Angeles County 52,050 8.4 34.5% Statewide cap Dem
146 Calexico CA Imperial County 38,585 8.4 36.0% Statewide cap Dem
147 Oildale CA Kern County 34,687 8.4 34.1% Statewide cap Rep
148 Temescal Valley CA Riverside County 30,069 8.4 39.7% Statewide cap Dem
149 Silver Firs WA Snohomish County 22,306 8.4 27.8% Statewide cap Dem
150 Willowbrook CA Los Angeles County 21,681 8.4 34.5% Statewide cap Dem

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.