Alita O'Leary
By Brad Beckett on July 27, 2026
A new report from Zumper says that whether it’s better to rent or buy depends on local market conditions and there are two key metrics help compare the costs. Click here to read more.
A new report from Zumper says that whether it’s better to rent or buy depends on local market conditions and there are two key metrics help compare the costs. The first is the price-to-rent ratio, which divides a market’s median home price by one year of median rent. Generally, ratios above 21 favor renting, below 15 favor buying, and 15–21 indicate a balanced market. Across more than 80 markets analyzed, the national midpoint is about 20. The second metric is the PITI cost delta, which compares a monthly mortgage payment—including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance—to monthly rent, showing the immediate monthly cost difference between buying and renting. Be sure to check out their entire list of 83 cities.
“The rent-vs-buy question doesn’t have a national answer because the math changes depending on your ZIP code. For example, in San Jose, renting saves more than $8,500 a month, and the price-to-rent ratio sits at a staggering 55. By contrast, in Pittsburgh, the two options cost the same. Most of the country falls somewhere in between, so your best move depends on where you call home.”