National ranking · 100 entries
Worst Cities for Landlords in 2026.
The 100 US cities where landlords face the highest eviction risk, strongest tenant protections, most rent-burdened households, and most tenant-leaning political climate. Ranked by Eviction Risk Score (1–10) from Census ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state statute weighting.
Top city
San Francisco
9.9 · CA
Average Risk
8.1
across 100 entries
Most-represented state
CA
61 of 100 on this list
Average rent · list
$1,917
per month
Ranking · top 100
Ranked by Eviction Risk Score · highest first
Click a column to sort
| # | City↕ | County↕ | Population↕ | Risk↕ | Rent Burden↕ | Average Rent↕ | Lean↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | San Francisco CASan Francisco rent control (1979) · Right to counsel in eviction proceedings: Sa… (2018) · Proposition G (owner move-in eviction restri… (1998) | San Francisco County | 830,235 | 9.9 | 25.1% | $2,476 | Dem |
| 002 | Los Angeles CALos Angeles rent control (1978) · Right to counsel in eviction proceedings: Lo… (2025) · Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance (JCO) (2023) | Los Angeles County | 3,857,263 | 9.8 | 35.0% | $1,933 | Dem |
| 003 | New York NYNYC Rent Control (federal Emergency Price Co… (1943) · Right to counsel in eviction proceedings: Ne… (2017) · Good Cause Eviction adopted: New York (2024) | Kings County | 8,483,844 | 9.6 | 31.3% | $1,821 | Dem |
| 004 | Oakland CAOakland rent control (1980) · Measure EE (Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance) (2002) · Oakland CPI rent-increase cap amendment (2022) | Alameda County | 439,418 | 9.6 | 30.6% | $1,979 | Dem |
| 005 | Bell Gardens CABell Gardens Rent Stabilization and Just Cau… (2022) | Los Angeles County | 38,229 | 9.5 | 33.5% | $1,694 | Dem |
| 006 | Monsey NYLikely local rent control, Monsey (1974) | Rockland County | 28,160 | 9.5 | 51.0% | $1,892 | IND |
| 007 | Yonkers NYYonkers ETPA (1974) · HSTPA stabilized-stock provisions: Yonkers (2019) | Westchester County | 209,978 | 9.4 | 32.7% | $1,784 | Dem |
| 008 | Ithaca NYGood Cause Eviction adopted: Ithaca (2024) | Tompkins County | 32,814 | 9.3 | 41.3% | $1,447 | Dem |
| 009 | West Hollywood CAWest Hollywood rent control (1985) | Los Angeles County | 34,884 | 9.2 | 27.9% | $2,091 | Dem |
| 010 | Washington DCDC Rental Housing Act (Rent Stabilization) (1985) · Edwards v. Habib (D.C. Cir.) (1968) | District of Columbia County | 681,294 | 9.1 | 28.6% | $1,954 | Dem |
| 011 | Long Beach CALong Beach Just Cause + Tenant Relocation (2019) · Long Beach Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordi… (2019) | Los Angeles County | 455,548 | 9.1 | 32.8% | $1,871 | Dem |
| 012 | Glendale CARental Rights Program (Ordinance No. 5922); … (2019) · Glendale Right to Lease / relocation ordinance (2019) · Glendale Just Cause + Tenant Relocation (2020) | Los Angeles County | 190,748 | 9.1 | 37.8% | $2,182 | Dem |
| 013 | Santa Monica CASanta Monica rent control (1979) · Source-of-income discrimination protection: … (2015) | Los Angeles County | 91,169 | 9.1 | 27.5% | $2,402 | Dem |
| 014 | Huntington Park CAHuntington Park Rent Stabilization (2024) | Los Angeles County | 53,108 | 9.1 | 34.2% | $1,505 | Dem |
| 015 | Spring Valley NYSpring Valley rent stabilization (1970) | Rockland County | 33,192 | 9.1 | 37.8% | $1,695 | IND |
| 016 | Beverly Hills CABeverly Hills Rent Stabilization Ordinance (… (1978) · Beverly Hills Chapter 6 (luxury unit) rent r… (1986) | Los Angeles County | 31,624 | 9.1 | 33.0% | $2,830 | Dem |
| 017 | San Jose CASan Jose rent control (1979) · San Jose Tenant Protection Ordinance (2017) | Santa Clara County | 990,138 | 9.0 | 30.1% | $2,669 | Dem |
| 018 | Hawthorne CA | Los Angeles County | 85,191 | 9.0 | 35.4% | $1,782 | Dem |
| 019 | White Plains NYWhite Plains rent stabilization (1970) · White Plains Good Cause opt-in (2025) · HSTPA stabilized-stock provisions: White Pla… (2019) | Westchester County | 60,666 | 9.0 | 31.7% | $2,269 | Dem |
| 020 | Westmont CA | Los Angeles County | 34,123 | 9.0 | 44.6% | $1,466 | Dem |
| 021 | Bell CA | Los Angeles County | 32,476 | 9.0 | 40.3% | $1,575 | Dem |
| 022 | Cambridge MACambridge Rent Control (repealed 1994) (1970) · Source-of-income discrimination protection: … (1992) | Middlesex County | 118,796 | 8.9 | 27.9% | $2,787 | Dem |
| 023 | Inglewood CAInglewood Housing Protection Ordinance (rent… (2019) | Los Angeles County | 104,569 | 8.7 | 35.5% | $1,787 | Dem |
| 024 | Mount Vernon NYMount Vernon rent stabilization (1970) · HSTPA stabilized-stock provisions: Mount Ver… (2019) | Westchester County | 72,427 | 8.7 | 32.1% | $1,629 | Dem |
| 025 | Florence-Graham CA | Los Angeles County | 60,690 | 8.7 | 35.7% | $1,521 | Dem |
| 026 | Kiryas Joel NY | Orange County | 38,916 | 8.7 | 51.0% | $1,604 | IND |
| 027 | Newburgh NY | Orange County | 28,519 | 8.7 | 36.3% | $1,454 | IND |
| 028 | Glen Cove NY | Nassau County | 28,112 | 8.7 | 38.8% | $2,398 | Dem |
| 029 | San Diego CA | San Diego County | 1,389,526 | 8.6 | 32.4% | $2,313 | Dem |
| 030 | Santa Ana CA | Orange County | 312,534 | 8.6 | 31.9% | $2,082 | Dem |
| 031 | Berkeley CA | Alameda County | 120,257 | 8.6 | 34.0% | $2,133 | Dem |
| 032 | Albany NY | Albany County | 100,492 | 8.6 | 30.8% | $1,216 | Dem |
| 033 | Hempstead NY | Nassau County | 58,801 | 8.6 | 33.0% | $1,622 | Dem |
| 034 | Poughkeepsie NY | Dutchess County | 31,958 | 8.6 | 36.8% | $1,400 | Dem |
| 035 | Seaside CA | Monterey County | 31,814 | 8.6 | 38.6% | $2,409 | Dem |
| 036 | Lawndale CA | Los Angeles County | 30,781 | 8.6 | 33.4% | $1,938 | Dem |
| 037 | Newark NJ | Essex County | 310,178 | 8.5 | 33.7% | $1,392 | Dem |
| 038 | Port Chester NY | Westchester County | 31,102 | 8.5 | 31.1% | $2,028 | Dem |
| 039 | Troy NY | Rensselaer County | 51,033 | 8.4 | 31.6% | $1,175 | Dem |
| 040 | Burbank CA | Los Angeles County | 104,546 | 8.3 | 34.3% | $2,192 | Dem |
| 041 | Bellflower CA | Los Angeles County | 76,819 | 8.3 | 34.5% | $1,830 | Dem |
| 042 | New Brunswick NJ | Middlesex County | 56,345 | 8.3 | 35.2% | $1,814 | Dem |
| 043 | Imperial Beach CA | San Diego County | 25,764 | 8.3 | 33.8% | $2,011 | Dem |
| 044 | Mountain View CA | Contra Costa County | 83,732 | 8.2 | 23.1% | $3,062 | Dem |
| 045 | Hoboken NJ | Hudson County | 58,668 | 8.2 | 23.8% | $2,938 | Dem |
| 046 | Boston MA | Suffolk County | 666,442 | 8.1 | 30.6% | $2,147 | Dem |
| 047 | Rochester NY | Monroe County | 208,772 | 8.1 | 32.0% | $1,081 | Dem |
| 048 | Pasadena CA | Los Angeles County | 136,969 | 8.1 | 31.5% | $2,265 | Dem |
| 049 | El Monte CA | Los Angeles County | 106,109 | 8.1 | 35.4% | $1,736 | Dem |
| 050 | New Rochelle NY | Westchester County | 82,769 | 8.1 | 30.5% | $1,917 | Dem |
| 051 | West New York NJ | Hudson County | 52,004 | 8.1 | 32.2% | $1,716 | Dem |
| 052 | San Luis Obispo CA | San Luis Obispo County | 48,491 | 8.1 | 44.7% | $1,965 | Dem |
| 053 | Jersey City NJ | Hudson County | 294,078 | 8.0 | 27.5% | $2,007 | Dem |
| 054 | Santa Cruz CA | Santa Cruz County | 61,607 | 8.0 | 32.5% | $2,452 | Dem |
| 055 | Seattle WA | King County | 754,195 | 7.9 | 27.4% | $2,030 | Dem |
| 056 | Sacramento CA | Sacramento County | 528,706 | 7.9 | 32.8% | $1,779 | Dem |
| 057 | Buffalo NY | Erie County | 276,854 | 7.9 | 31.4% | $1,046 | Dem |
| 058 | Salinas CA | Monterey County | 161,761 | 7.9 | 32.2% | $1,991 | Dem |
| 059 | Paterson NJ | Passaic County | 158,735 | 7.9 | 35.6% | $1,548 | Dem |
| 060 | East Los Angeles CA | Los Angeles County | 111,647 | 7.9 | 30.1% | $1,494 | Dem |
| 061 | Downey CA | Los Angeles County | 110,939 | 7.9 | 33.6% | $1,937 | Dem |
| 062 | El Cajon CA | San Diego County | 104,449 | 7.9 | 42.3% | $1,856 | Dem |
| 063 | South Gate CA | Los Angeles County | 91,483 | 7.9 | 32.8% | $1,531 | Dem |
| 064 | Somerville MA | Middlesex County | 81,036 | 7.9 | 24.9% | $2,517 | Dem |
| 065 | Alhambra CA | Los Angeles County | 81,022 | 7.9 | 31.2% | $1,939 | Dem |
| 066 | Passaic NJ | Passaic County | 70,002 | 7.9 | 34.9% | $1,465 | Dem |
| 067 | Davis CA | Yolo County | 66,978 | 7.9 | 45.7% | $2,187 | Dem |
| 068 | Lynwood CA | Los Angeles County | 64,578 | 7.9 | 35.3% | $1,652 | Dem |
| 069 | Montebello CA | Los Angeles County | 61,045 | 7.9 | 35.2% | $1,827 | Dem |
| 070 | San Rafael CA | Marin County | 60,433 | 7.9 | 36.0% | $2,377 | Dem |
| 071 | Monterey Park CA | Los Angeles County | 59,132 | 7.9 | 35.0% | $1,888 | Dem |
| 072 | Perth Amboy NJ | Middlesex County | 55,855 | 7.9 | 36.9% | $1,688 | Dem |
| 073 | Paramount CA | Los Angeles County | 52,050 | 7.9 | 34.5% | $1,875 | Dem |
| 074 | Watsonville CA | Santa Cruz County | 51,712 | 7.9 | 33.8% | $1,889 | Dem |
| 075 | Rosemead CA | Los Angeles County | 50,013 | 7.9 | 34.8% | $1,834 | Dem |
| 076 | Binghamton NY | Broome County | 47,151 | 7.9 | 31.0% | $870 | IND |
| 077 | Monrovia CA | Los Angeles County | 37,571 | 7.9 | 32.1% | $2,114 | Dem |
| 078 | Middletown NY | Orange County | 30,289 | 7.9 | 31.5% | $1,661 | IND |
| 079 | Harrison NY | Westchester County | 29,961 | 7.9 | 32.8% | $2,616 | Dem |
| 080 | East Palo Alto CA | San Mateo County | 29,069 | 7.9 | 34.9% | $2,244 | Dem |
| 081 | Ossining NY | Westchester County | 26,950 | 7.9 | 36.6% | $2,154 | Dem |
| 082 | Irvine CA | Orange County | 311,690 | 7.8 | 31.5% | $2,997 | Dem |
| 083 | Chula Vista CA | San Diego County | 276,375 | 7.8 | 35.4% | $2,229 | Dem |
| 084 | Oxnard CA | Ventura County | 200,928 | 7.8 | 34.0% | $2,032 | Dem |
| 085 | Hayward CA | Alameda County | 158,801 | 7.8 | 31.9% | $2,391 | Dem |
| 086 | Pomona CA | Los Angeles County | 147,943 | 7.8 | 36.0% | $1,810 | Dem |
| 087 | Santa Clara CA | Santa Clara County | 130,256 | 7.8 | 24.5% | $3,016 | Dem |
| 088 | Richmond CA | Contra Costa County | 115,505 | 7.8 | 34.5% | $1,960 | Dem |
| 089 | San Mateo CA | San Mateo County | 103,105 | 7.8 | 28.4% | $3,077 | Dem |
| 090 | Compton CA | Los Angeles County | 92,698 | 7.8 | 35.9% | $1,664 | Dem |
| 091 | Santa Barbara CA | Santa Barbara County | 87,779 | 7.8 | 33.4% | $2,413 | Dem |
| 092 | Alameda CA | Alameda County | 77,238 | 7.8 | 27.9% | $2,474 | Dem |
| 093 | Baldwin Park CA | Los Angeles County | 70,138 | 7.8 | 33.4% | $1,867 | Dem |
| 094 | Lakewood NJ | Ocean County | 69,585 | 7.8 | 49.1% | $1,718 | Rep |
| 095 | Redondo Beach CA | Los Angeles County | 69,291 | 7.8 | 28.6% | $2,691 | Dem |
| 096 | Schenectady NY | Schenectady County | 68,847 | 7.8 | 35.8% | $1,145 | Dem |
| 097 | Gardena CA | Los Angeles County | 59,422 | 7.8 | 33.2% | $1,809 | Dem |
| 098 | Chelsea MA | Suffolk County | 39,908 | 7.8 | 34.7% | $1,956 | Dem |
| 099 | San Gabriel CA | Los Angeles County | 38,392 | 7.8 | 30.5% | $1,915 | Dem |
| 100 | College Park MD | Prince George's County | 34,540 | 7.8 | 46.4% | $1,912 | Dem |
How the ranking is built
The Eviction Risk Score is a 1–10 index combining local, regional, and state political climate (2020 county presidential margin + state legislative posture), economic stress (Census ACS 2023 poverty + unemployment), supply constraint (renter share + median rent), rent-control risk (national percentile of rent burden), eviction process difficulty (state statute), tenant organizing strength (renter share), and housing court bias (state-weighted).
We include only cities with population ≥ 25,000 so the ranking reflects places where the dataset is robust and the practical landlord exposure is material. Every city on this list links to its full page with nine sub-scores, typical eviction cost, typical timeline, and an interactive map of neighboring cities.
Sources
What this ranking is based on. Positions reflect each city's legal and regulatory environment for landlords: statutes, ordinances, eviction timelines, filing costs, and court posture, combined with market-wide economics such as rent burden. Rankings never use tenant or neighborhood demographics, and the one-line notes on the top entries cite the specific enacted laws behind each position. Full detail on every input is on the methodology page.
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.