The rise of remote work and surging rents in major metros have pushed priced-out residents to search elsewhere for more budget-friendly housing options, fueling out-of-market demand in 20 cities over the last six years.

In the third quarter of 2025, five metros stood out for having experienced the most drastic shifts in renter makeup: Detroit ; Philadelphia ; Sacramento, CA ; San Francisco ; and Charlotte, NC , according to the October 2025 rent report from Realtor.com®.

Realtor.com economist Jiayi Xu explains that the common thread among these five otherwise very different markets is that they each offer more affordable rental options than nearby major cities.

For example, while the median asking rent in San Francisco was relatively high, at $2,838, it was ne

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