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
Los Angeles
10.0 · CA
Average Risk
8.5
across 100 entries
Most-represented state
CA
33 of 100 on this list
Average rent · list
$1,724
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 | Los Angeles CA | Los Angeles County | 3,857,263 | 10.0 | 35.0% | $1,933 | Dem |
| 002 | San Francisco CA | San Francisco County | 830,235 | 9.9 | 25.1% | $2,476 | Dem |
| 003 | Oakland CA | Alameda County | 439,418 | 9.9 | 30.6% | $1,979 | Dem |
| 004 | Pasadena CA | Los Angeles County | 136,969 | 9.9 | 31.5% | $2,265 | Dem |
| 005 | Inglewood CA | Los Angeles County | 104,569 | 9.9 | 35.5% | $1,787 | Dem |
| 006 | Santa Monica CA | Los Angeles County | 91,169 | 9.9 | 27.5% | $2,402 | Dem |
| 007 | Bell Gardens CA | Los Angeles County | 38,229 | 9.9 | 33.5% | $1,694 | Dem |
| 008 | West Hollywood CA | Los Angeles County | 34,884 | 9.9 | 27.9% | $2,091 | Dem |
| 009 | Beverly Hills CA | Los Angeles County | 31,624 | 9.9 | 33.0% | $2,830 | Dem |
| 010 | New York NY | Kings County | 8,483,844 | 9.8 | 31.3% | $1,821 | Dem |
| 011 | Berkeley CA | Alameda County | 120,257 | 9.8 | 34.0% | $2,133 | Dem |
| 012 | Alameda CA | Alameda County | 77,238 | 9.8 | 27.9% | $2,474 | Dem |
| 013 | Baldwin Park CA | Los Angeles County | 70,138 | 9.8 | 33.4% | $1,867 | Dem |
| 014 | Hayward CA | Alameda County | 158,801 | 9.7 | 31.9% | $2,391 | Dem |
| 015 | Mount Vernon NY | Westchester County | 72,427 | 9.7 | 32.1% | $1,629 | Dem |
| 016 | San Jose CA | Santa Clara County | 990,138 | 9.6 | 30.1% | $2,669 | Dem |
| 017 | Washington DC | District of Columbia County | 681,294 | 9.6 | 28.6% | $1,954 | Dem |
| 018 | New Rochelle NY | Westchester County | 82,769 | 9.6 | 30.5% | $1,917 | Dem |
| 019 | Port Chester NY | Westchester County | 31,102 | 9.6 | 31.1% | $2,028 | Dem |
| 020 | Yonkers NY | Westchester County | 209,978 | 9.5 | 32.7% | $1,784 | Dem |
| 021 | White Plains NY | Westchester County | 60,666 | 9.5 | 31.7% | $2,269 | Dem |
| 022 | Harrison NY | Westchester County | 29,961 | 9.5 | 32.8% | $2,616 | Dem |
| 023 | Richmond CA | Contra Costa County | 115,505 | 9.4 | 34.5% | $1,960 | Dem |
| 024 | Culver City CA | Los Angeles County | 39,931 | 9.4 | 31.2% | $2,737 | Dem |
| 025 | Jersey City NJ | Hudson County | 294,078 | 9.3 | 27.5% | $2,007 | Dem |
| 026 | Santa Ana CA | Orange County | 312,534 | 9.2 | 31.9% | $2,082 | Dem |
| 027 | Oxnard CA | Ventura County | 200,928 | 9.2 | 34.0% | $2,032 | Dem |
| 028 | Concord CA | Contra Costa County | 124,035 | 9.2 | 36.2% | $2,274 | Dem |
| 029 | Antioch CA | Contra Costa County | 116,477 | 9.2 | 37.3% | $2,278 | Dem |
| 030 | East Orange NJ | Essex County | 70,090 | 9.2 | 34.3% | $1,441 | Dem |
| 031 | East Palo Alto CA | San Mateo County | 29,069 | 9.2 | 34.9% | $2,244 | Dem |
| 032 | Mountain View CA | Contra Costa County | 83,732 | 9.1 | 23.1% | $3,062 | Dem |
| 033 | Newark NJ | Essex County | 310,178 | 9.0 | 33.7% | $1,392 | Dem |
| 034 | Union City NJ | Hudson County | 66,463 | 9.0 | 32.3% | $1,537 | Dem |
| 035 | Poughkeepsie NY | Dutchess County | 31,958 | 9.0 | 36.8% | $1,400 | Dem |
| 036 | Long Beach NY | Nassau County | 34,756 | 8.9 | 31.6% | $2,515 | Dem |
| 037 | Spring Valley NY | Rockland County | 33,192 | 8.9 | 37.8% | $1,695 | IND |
| 038 | Freeport NY | Nassau County | 44,088 | 8.8 | 31.7% | $2,077 | Dem |
| 039 | Foothill Farms CA | Sacramento County | 36,435 | 8.8 | 37.4% | $1,695 | Dem |
| 040 | Rockville Centre NY | Nassau County | 25,765 | 8.8 | 31.3% | $1,881 | Dem |
| 041 | Gresham OR | Multnomah County | 112,378 | 8.7 | 34.4% | $1,586 | Dem |
| 042 | Albany NY | Albany County | 100,492 | 8.7 | 30.8% | $1,216 | Dem |
| 043 | Adelanto CA | San Bernardino County | 37,964 | 8.7 | 36.2% | $1,437 | Dem |
| 044 | Paterson NJ | Passaic County | 158,735 | 8.6 | 35.6% | $1,548 | Dem |
| 045 | Trenton NJ | Mercer County | 90,338 | 8.6 | 34.0% | $1,294 | Dem |
| 046 | Camden NJ | Camden County | 71,496 | 8.6 | 37.0% | $1,226 | Dem |
| 047 | Passaic NJ | Passaic County | 70,002 | 8.6 | 34.9% | $1,465 | Dem |
| 048 | Plainfield NJ | Union County | 55,236 | 8.6 | 32.4% | $1,767 | Dem |
| 049 | Atlantic City NJ | Atlantic County | 38,632 | 8.6 | 33.6% | $1,136 | Dem |
| 050 | Baltimore MD | Baltimore city | 573,243 | 8.5 | 32.0% | $1,331 | Dem |
| 051 | San Bernardino CA | San Bernardino County | 222,724 | 8.5 | 37.6% | $1,508 | Dem |
| 052 | Milford Mill MD | Baltimore County | 30,829 | 8.5 | 34.1% | $1,653 | Dem |
| 053 | Rahway NJ | Union County | 30,109 | 8.5 | 34.2% | $1,845 | Dem |
| 054 | Bridgeton NJ | Cumberland County | 27,001 | 8.5 | 31.5% | $1,340 | Dem |
| 055 | Barstow CA | San Bernardino County | 25,100 | 8.5 | 31.2% | $1,091 | Dem |
| 056 | Portland OR | Multnomah County | 641,165 | 8.4 | 31.4% | $1,655 | Dem |
| 057 | Elizabeth NJ | Union County | 137,302 | 8.4 | 32.0% | $1,523 | Dem |
| 058 | Rialto CA | San Bernardino County | 104,143 | 8.4 | 33.8% | $1,759 | Dem |
| 059 | Springfield OR | Lane County | 61,499 | 8.4 | 30.1% | $1,258 | Dem |
| 060 | Highland CA | San Bernardino County | 56,675 | 8.4 | 39.2% | $1,629 | Dem |
| 061 | New Brunswick NJ | Middlesex County | 56,345 | 8.4 | 35.2% | $1,814 | Dem |
| 062 | Essex MD | Baltimore County | 40,580 | 8.4 | 33.8% | $1,319 | Dem |
| 063 | Owings Mills MD | Baltimore County | 37,245 | 8.4 | 29.5% | $1,841 | Dem |
| 064 | Salisbury MD | Wicomico County | 33,285 | 8.4 | 32.0% | $1,318 | IND |
| 065 | Newburgh NY | Orange County | 28,519 | 8.4 | 36.3% | $1,454 | IND |
| 066 | Millville NJ | Cumberland County | 27,511 | 8.4 | 34.3% | $1,261 | Dem |
| 067 | Bayonne NJ | Hudson County | 71,553 | 8.3 | 28.9% | $1,682 | Dem |
| 068 | Dundalk MD | Baltimore County | 65,969 | 8.3 | 35.9% | $1,473 | Dem |
| 069 | Towson MD | Baltimore County | 58,679 | 8.3 | 32.8% | $1,764 | Dem |
| 070 | Perth Amboy NJ | Middlesex County | 55,855 | 8.3 | 36.9% | $1,688 | Dem |
| 071 | Florin CA | Sacramento County | 50,211 | 8.3 | 30.6% | $1,622 | Dem |
| 072 | North Highlands CA | Sacramento County | 47,957 | 8.3 | 36.1% | $1,636 | Dem |
| 073 | Sicklerville NJ | Camden County | 44,998 | 8.3 | 42.0% | $1,566 | Dem |
| 074 | Chillum MD | Prince George's County | 34,871 | 8.3 | 28.9% | $1,735 | Dem |
| 075 | College Park MD | Prince George's County | 34,540 | 8.3 | 46.4% | $1,912 | Dem |
| 076 | Ithaca NY | Tompkins County | 32,814 | 8.3 | 41.3% | $1,447 | Dem |
| 077 | Middle River MD | Baltimore County | 31,712 | 8.3 | 41.2% | $1,636 | Dem |
| 078 | Parkville MD | Baltimore County | 30,549 | 8.3 | 33.8% | $1,526 | Dem |
| 079 | South Laurel MD | Prince George's County | 29,272 | 8.3 | 33.7% | $1,830 | Dem |
| 080 | Carney MD | Baltimore County | 28,343 | 8.3 | 31.8% | $1,793 | Dem |
| 081 | Reisterstown MD | Baltimore County | 25,582 | 8.3 | 39.4% | $1,600 | Dem |
| 082 | Carteret NJ | Middlesex County | 25,496 | 8.3 | 27.9% | $2,032 | Dem |
| 083 | Victorville CA | San Bernardino County | 137,627 | 8.2 | 39.4% | $1,618 | Dem |
| 084 | Gaithersburg MD | Montgomery County | 69,825 | 8.2 | 29.5% | $2,058 | Dem |
| 085 | Schenectady NY | Schenectady County | 68,847 | 8.2 | 35.8% | $1,145 | Dem |
| 086 | West New York NJ | Hudson County | 52,004 | 8.2 | 32.2% | $1,716 | Dem |
| 087 | North Bethesda MD | Montgomery County | 49,677 | 8.2 | 27.4% | $2,191 | Dem |
| 088 | Linden NJ | Union County | 44,192 | 8.2 | 31.8% | $1,731 | Dem |
| 089 | Catonsville MD | Baltimore County | 43,368 | 8.2 | 32.7% | $1,724 | Dem |
| 090 | Randallstown MD | Baltimore County | 35,957 | 8.2 | 38.3% | $1,577 | Dem |
| 091 | Laurel MD | Prince George's County | 29,798 | 8.2 | 27.3% | $1,873 | Dem |
| 092 | Old Bridge NJ | Middlesex County | 28,236 | 8.2 | 29.2% | $1,459 | Dem |
| 093 | Lochearn MD | Baltimore County | 27,074 | 8.2 | 34.1% | $1,460 | Dem |
| 094 | Auburn NY | Cayuga County | 26,285 | 8.2 | 32.3% | $897 | Rep |
| 095 | Fairland MD | Montgomery County | 26,231 | 8.2 | 33.3% | $1,894 | Dem |
| 096 | Buffalo NY | Erie County | 276,854 | 8.1 | 31.4% | $1,046 | Dem |
| 097 | Hesperia CA | San Bernardino County | 100,775 | 8.1 | 34.8% | $1,590 | Dem |
| 098 | Compton CA | Los Angeles County | 92,698 | 8.1 | 35.9% | $1,664 | Dem |
| 099 | Pasco WA | Franklin County | 79,575 | 8.1 | 31.2% | $1,227 | Rep |
| 100 | Bethesda MD | Montgomery County | 69,397 | 8.1 | 28.7% | $2,469 | 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
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.