REPORT: Fayetteville ranked most competitive small rental market
RELATED VIDEO: Fayetteville Mayor Rawn says housing crisis top priority (Mar. 20, 2025)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Fayetteville has been ranked the most competitive small rental market in the U.S., according to a new report.
RentCafe's Rental Competitiveness Report, which examines rental market trends in 139 metro areas, identifies high occupancy rates, short vacancy periods and strong lease renewal rates as the main factors contributing to increased competition.
Currently, 97% of apartments in Fayetteville are occupied, leaving 3% available for new renters. The lease renewal rate has risen to 75%, limiting turnover and reducing the number of open units. Each vacant apartment now receives an average of nine applicants, up from six at the start of 2024.
Apartments in Fayetteville stay on the market for an average of 22 days before being leased.
HOUSING CRISIS TIMELINE: Fayetteville ranked second most competitive small rental market in U.S.
The city's Rental Competitiveness Index (RCI) score at the start of 2025 is 91.7 out of 100, ranking just behind Miami's 93.1, the highest in the nation.
Apartment availability increased from 2.25% in 2024 to 3.91% in 2025, while lease renewal rates also grew from 73.3% to 75%. The number of applicants per vacant unit dropped from 11 in 2024 to nine in 2025.
Rank
Market
Competitive Score
Average Vacant Days
Occupied Apartments
Prospective Renters
Lease Renewal Rate
Share of New Units
Fayetteville, AR
91.7
22
97.0%
9
75.4%
0.49%
Lehigh Valley, PA
90.5
38
96.5%
13
80.0%
0.00%
Lafayette, IN
87.4
34
96.6%
10
73.1%
0.00%
Providence, RI
84.4
37
95.8%
11
72.2%
0.73%
Little Rock, AR
83.7
32
93.8%
7
71.7%
0.00%
Harrisburg, PA
82.3
41
95.6%
9
76.5%
1.07%
Youngstown, OH
82.2
42
94.7%
8
74.7%
0.00%
Boise, ID
82.1
36
94.9%
13
59.1%
0.77%
Jackson, MS
81.3
38
93.0%
7
73.1%
0.00%
Worcester – Springfield, MA
81.2
49
96.0%
15
61.9%
0.18%
Rochester, NY
80.9
46
95.1%
8
77.1%
0.17%
Dayton, OH
80.8
39
94.3%
7
70.7%
0.00%
Madison, WI
80.4
41
94.8%
9
67.4%
0.24%
South Bend, IN
80.2
37
93.9%
4
75.7%
0.00%
Knoxville, TN
80.1
34
94.8%
7
67.5%
0.87%
Toledo, OH
79.4
42
94.1%
6
73.4%
0.00%
Amarillo, TX
79.1
31
93.4%
6
62.5%
0.00%
Palm Beach County, FL
78.9
42
95.0%
10
71.6%
1.81%
Lubbock, TX
78.4
33
93.9%
6
61.4%
0.00%
To read the full report, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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