Shreveport ranked among the nation’s least favorable cities for renters, placing 173rd out of 182 cities in WalletHub’s 2026 Best & Worst Places to Rent in America report released Monday.
The personal finance website evaluated 182 U.S. cities using 21 metrics across two broad categories: rental market and affordability, and quality of life. The analysis considered factors including rental affordability, cost of living, vacancy rates, job availability, crime, recreation and state renter protections.
Among Louisiana cities included in the study, Baton Rouge ranked highest at No. 166, followed by Shreveport at No. 173 and New Orleans at No. 176. Only six cities nationwide received lower overall rankings than Shreveport.
Shreveport earned an overall score of 38.08. The city ranked 123rd for rental market and affordability but fell to 179th for quality of life, making it one of the nation’s lowest-rated cities in that category. The results suggest that while the city’s rental market performed somewhat better than its overall ranking, quality-of-life measures weighed heavily on its final score.
Baton Rouge received an overall score of 40.89. While it ranked 95th for rental market and affordability, it placed 168th for quality of life. New Orleans posted an overall score of 36.51, ranking 154th for rental market and affordability and 162nd for quality of life.
Despite Baton Rouge’s overall ranking, the city stood out in one measure, recording the nation’s third-highest rental vacancy rate. According to WalletHub, higher vacancy rates can provide renters with more housing choices and greater negotiating power.
Nationally, Scottsdale, Arizona, claimed the top spot, followed by Gilbert and Chandler, Arizona. Detroit finished last, with Cleveland and Jackson, Mississippi, also ranking near the bottom.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the strongest rental markets combine affordability with renter protections and overall livability.
“In the best cities for renters, rent can cost you as little as around 15% of your income,” Lupo said. “Our study also considers quality-of-life factors such as a city’s traffic congestion, job market or recreation options to make sure you can get a good living experience, not just inexpensive housing.”
WalletHub said the rankings were based on data collected through June 9 from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Association of REALTORS, the FBI and other public and private organizations.
The full report is available at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-renters/23010.