Overview of Findings

Apartment List has released Cincinnati’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.

"Cincinnati renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories average scores."

Key findings in Cincinnati include the following:

• Cincinnati renters gave their city a C+ overall.
• The highest-rated categories for Cincinnati were affordability (A), public transit (B+) and social life (B+).
• The areas of concern for Cincinnati were safety and low crime rate (C+) and weather (C).
• Millennial renters are moderately satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of B-, while renters who are parents are less satisfied, giving it a D overall.
• Cincinnati earned similar scores to Columbus (C+), but did relatively well compared to other cities in Ohio, including Cleveland (C) and Dayton (F).
• Cincinnati earned similar scores to other cities nationwide, including New York, NY (C+), Philadelphia, PA (C+), and Indianapolis, IN (C+).
• The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.

Renters say:

• "I love the diversity in my city. Everything you need is in proximity. Finding a job is easy and travel is convenient. And new things to do are popping up every day because the city is growing." – Martina T.
• "I love how this city comes together when people are in need. But I hate the crazy weather: one day it’s 30 degrees, the next day it’s 60." – Brooke F.
• "It’s a growing city with new night life and restaurants regularly opening. Plus the cost of living is low." – Nicholas C.
• "It’s a growing area ripe with opportunity. Cincinnati is at the beginning of a huge boom in growth and reform, and needs people to help shape its future." – Ryan N.

For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.