One Northeast city’s rents have surged by nearly 50% since 2019 — outpacing every other major city
It is hard to find a steal in the Steel City.
Pittsburgh has emerged as the epicenter of a striking rental price escalation across the United States, with rents soaring nearly 50% since 2019 — outpacing every other major city tracked by real estate analysts.
This dramatic rise, which saw the city’s median rent climb 47.9% over the past six years, contrasts with a broader national trend of declining rental costs that has persisted for 20 months, according to new data released by Realtor.com.
While the national median rent dipped to $1,694 in March — down 3.7% from its 2022 high — Pittsburgh’s steep increase highlights a regional disparity that continues to challenge affordability there.
It all started, as with many smaller cities in America, during 2020.
“The rent surge in Pittsburgh can be traced back to the pandemic, when Pittsburgh’s relatively affordable housing began attracting renters in search of lower costs and more space — particularly from nearby, high-cost metros like New York City,” Realtor.com Economist Jiayi Xu told The Post. “This shift in demand contributed to rising rental prices.”
In sum: There’s a bunch of competition.
The nationwide rental market has shown signs of softening, with prices falling $65 from their peak, yet they remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels in nearly all major metros except San Francisco.
Across the country, rents are still 20% above their 2019 benchmarks, with Pittsburgh’s surge leading the pack.
The rush for Pittsburgh is even reflected in its sales market.
“In Pittsburgh especially, homes for sale are hard to find, with the number of active listings down 39.3% in March 2025 compared to March 2019,” Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com, said.
Other cities, such as Tampa, Florida, with a 45.7% rental rise, and Indianapolis, up 34%, also reflect significant growth, but none match Pittsburgh’s trajectory. In California, Sacramento posted a 30.6% increase, yet it pales in comparison to the northeastern city’s gains.
Berner noted the persistent upward pressure in many markets despite the national decline.
“While the median asking rent is down $65 monthly or over $700 annually, in nearly every major US metro rents are still considerably higher than 2019,” he said.
“We have seen declines in rents largely due to robust multi-family building and permitting adding more rental options in many metros.”
However, this construction boom has not yet reached Pittsburgh in a way that tempers its rising costs, leaving renters to grapple with the aftermath of a market that has outstripped supply.
“On the supply side, new construction has not kept up with demand,” Xu added.
“In Pittsburgh, only 1,738 units in buildings with five or more units were permitted for construction in 2024 — just 2.3% above the average number permitted units between 2019 and 2023. In other words, as rental demand has surged, limited new supply has intensified competition and driven prices higher.”
The rental landscape remains uneven, with some regions experiencing continued price growth.
New York saw a 5.6% jump in March, while Kansas City, where rents hit a record $1,371, rose 4.3%.
The Washington, DC area followed with a 2.6% increase.
Analysts suggest that the South and West have benefited from a surge in multifamily housing starts over recent years, adding inventory during one of the slowest housing markets in decades.
Yet, the construction momentum is shifting, with Midwestern cities like Milwaukee — where housing starts more than doubled between March 2024 and 2025 — Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Ohio’s Cleveland and Columbus now leading the charge.
