Where do people want to move in WA? These 2 cities are among most sought-after
Summer is peak moving season, particularly for renters.
With college graduates looking for a new city to settle down, families waiting for the end of the school year to relocate and leases coming to an end, many chose to relocate during the warmer months.
Each summer, apartment search website RentCafe identifies which U.S. cities are the most sought-after by renters.
Specifically, renters are “focusing on apartments in cities driven by strong job markets and major economic investments,” RentCafe real estate writer and Adina Dragos wrote in a June 4 article.
Two cities in Washington state ranked among the most popular options for renters looking to relocate in 2026, according to RentCafe.
Here’s which ones made the list:
Where are people most looking to move in 2026?
RentCafe listed the 30 most sought-after cities in the country, based on metrics relating to lease searches.
“The West emerged as the leading region for renter interest for the first time in the series’ history,” Dragos said, marking a “significant spike in renter activity.”
Of the 30 most popular markets, 11 are in the West.
Which Washington city is most sought-after by renters?
Spokane ranked No. 5 on RentCafe’s 2026 list of the most sought-after cities for renters.
“Spokane has seen an impressive surge in renter activity, with the city reaching the second-highest page view ranking in the country this quarter,” Dragos wrote, calling it “a strong signal that apartment hunters are actively exploring what this Pacific Northwest market has to offer.”
A lot of searches for Spokane came from other markets in the West, including Seattle and San Jose, California, according to RentCafe.
Dragos said Spokane’s appeal for “cost-conscious renters” is raising its reputation.
“At the same time, its growing healthcare and education sectors provide employment stability, and it also sits within reasonable driving distance of outdoor recreation,” Dragos said.
As of Tuesday, June 16, the average cost of rent in Spokane was $1,435 a month across all property types and sizes, according to real estate website Zillow.
Costs have decreased year-over-year, Zillow said.
Why is Tacoma a popular destination for renters?
Tacoma was No. 20 on RentCafe’s list, its first time ranking among the top 30.
Renters are looking “beyond Seattle for Pacific Northwest options with employment opportunities,” RentCafe said.
What are top 10 cities for renters looking to move?
According to RentCafe, these were the 10 most sought-after cities for renters:
- Minneapolis
- Atlanta
- Miami
- Oakland, California
- Spokane
- Bronx, New York
- Long Beach, California
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Milwaukee
- Baltimore
How are the most sought-after cities to move to determined?
RentCafe said it assigned cities a “rental activity” score based on four metrics: availability rate, rental page views, listings added to favorites and saved searches.
The 150 largest cities by population in the contiguous United States all received grades based on these metrics. Those with the highest scores were deemed the most sought after.
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Where do people want to move in WA? These 2 cities are among most sought-after."