How it works

The data

Rents and trends come from the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). It measures typical asking rents (the middle of the market, roughly the 35th to 65th percentile) for 8,456 ZIP codes plus cities and metros, and it adjusts for the mix of homes on the market. Our copy is as of August 2026; across the US, typical rent is $1,948, +2.5% over the past year.

Bedroom adjustments come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (table B25031, median rent by bedrooms), via Census Reporter. We use your ZIP's own ratios when the survey sample is solid, otherwise your state's, otherwise the national ones (studio 0.888×, 1-bed 0.875×, 2-bed 1.002×, 3-bed 1.128×, 4-bed 1.391× the all-units median).

The check

1. Local trend: the one-year change in typical rent for your ZIP. ZIP-level numbers can swing, so if your ZIP is more than 5 points away from your city, we use the city instead and say so.
2. Your increase: (new rent − current rent) ÷ current rent.
3. Verdict: more than 3 points above the trend is “well above”, 1–3 points is “a bit above”, within a point either way is “in line”.
4. Counteroffer: your current rent grown by the local trend, rounded to $5, and never more than the landlord's offer. If local rents fell, we suggest holding flat.
5. Typical range: the ZIP's typical rent × your bedroom ratio, ±10%.
6. Vacancy math: new rent ÷ monthly increase = how many months of the increase it takes your landlord to make up one empty month.

“Am I overpaying?” and listings

For your current rent or a listing you're considering, there's no increase to compare, so we compare the rent itself:

• With two or more similar listings that you add, we compare against their median. More than 5% above it is “overpaying”, 2–5% is “a bit high”, and we suggest asking for the median.
• Otherwise, a typical building is compared with the typical range: above the top is overpaying (ask for the top of the range), above the middle is a bit high (ask for the middle).
• A basic or older building is held to the lower half of the range, where such units usually rent.
• A luxury or new building gets no verdict from area data alone. We don't invent a “luxury premium”; add similar listings and we'll compare like with like.

What it can't tell you

• It describes the area, not your unit. A renovated corner unit with parking can be worth more than typical; say so honestly if that's you.
• Asking rents for new tenants aren't the same as renewal rents, but they're what your landlord would get if you left, which is why they're useful.
• It isn't legal advice. Some states and cities cap increases or require longer notice; check your local rules or a tenant organization.

Check your rent →