New York City isn’t just any city — and a renter in New York City isn’t your average renter.
From lifestyle to priorities, renters in the Big Apple differ in several important ways from the average American renter, according to the latest Apartments.com research. A recent survey featured over 20,000 renters nationwide — including over 730 in New York City, revealing some significant differences between these groups.
If you own or operate rental properties in New York City, here are the key differences you need to know about renters in the city that never sleeps.
1. The elevator rises to the top of the list
Most renters have some non-negotiables when they’re looking for a place. It’s got to have air conditioning, for example, or it’s a no-go without a dishwasher.
For renters in New York City, these amenities matter, too — but not as much as elevator access.
Known for its walk-up apartments, New York City is the only major city where elevator access is a more sought-after amenity than air conditioning or a dishwasher. In fact, having an elevator is the #1 most desirable amenity for New York City renters, with 55 percent of survey respondents selecting it as a necessity.
In-unit laundry comes in a close second, with 54 percent of NYC renters marking it as essential. Even so, renters in New York are more willing to live without it than renters in other markets. At the national level, in-unit laundry is a requirement for 68 percent of renters. In New York City, only 54 percent consider it essential.
If the unit doesn’t have laundry, at least the building should. An additional 44 percent of New York City renters prioritize onsite laundry facilities (such as a laundry room in the basement) — far more than renters in other parts of the country.
New York City renters are also less likely to care about having a balcony (only 30 percent consider it a necessity), a dishwasher (29 percent), or off-street parking or a garage (22 percent).
New York City renters’ top amenity requirements
These are the top 10 amenities renters in New York City say they can’t live without — compared to the equivalent rates of renters nationwide.
NYC | Nationwide | |
| 55% | 17% |
| 54% | 68% |
| 52% | 70% |
| 44% | 29% |
| 30% | 43% |
| 29% | 44% |
| 23% | 29% |
| 22% | 27% |
| 22% | 44% |
| 19% | 19% |
2. Public transit is a priority
Where’s the nearest subway station? New York City renters want to know. For 72 percent of them, living near public transit access, like a train station or bus stop, is a requirement when choosing where to live.
That’s nearly triple the national average — and one of the highest rates in the country. Only Washington, D.C. has stronger renter demand for transit. Seventy-five percent of D.C. respondents say they’ve got to live near public transit.
Because of their reliance on transit, renters in New York City are also less likely than renters elsewhere to want to live near work. Only 39 percent say they exclusively look for places near work, compared to 47 percent nationwide. With the convenience of subway access to avoid the commute traffic on the roads, New Yorkers can reach their jobs without having to live as close to their office or worksite.
3. Affordability is key
In New York City, affordable rent tops the list of reasons motivating renters to move, with 36 percent of renters citing this as their primary reason for moving. While life changes and personal reasons rank first nationally, cost takes precedence for NYC renters, reflecting the city’s high costs and competitive market.
Similarly, NYC renters are nearly twice as likely as renters nationwide to say they use government resources in their rental search. This suggests a greater reliance on subsidized or income-restricted rental options available through programs like NYC Housing Connect and Section 8.
4. The rental search can be tough
Finding a new rental in New York City isn’t easy. Renter demand is high, and supply is relatively low. As of the third quarter of 2025, the New York City market had an average multifamily vacancy rate of 3.4 percent, according to the latest CoStar data — that’s the lowest of all major markets in the country.
On average, NYC renters say they expect to research 10 properties and tour six — that’s one more property compared to the national averages of nine researched and five toured.
The added complexity of the NYC market means more renters rely on government resources and brokers to help them navigate listings, requirements, and limited availability. One in five NYC renters say they use a broker in their search.
Thanks to the tight rental market in New York City, renters are more flexible in their expectations. Not only do NYC renters have fewer must-haves when it comes to amenities, but they’re also less likely to be concerned about a property’s condition or negative reviews.
Only around half of New York City renters consider these issues to be deal-breakers, compared to around six in 10 renters nationally.
They’re also 7 percentage points more likely than the average renter to be open to taking a virtual tour with a leasing agent, highlighting the need for speed in the competitive New York City rental market.
5. Millennials dominate rental demand
Adults in their prime working years are overrepresented among New York City renters. Over half of NYC respondents fall between age 25 and 44.
Compared to renters nationally, NYC renters are significantly more likely to be in their late 20s to early 40s — a group often defined by career growth, increased mobility, and greater financial independence.
In contrast, younger renters ages 18 to 24 and older renters 65 and up are underrepresented, suggesting that the pace, cost, and lifestyle of renting in New York City may be more challenging for renters who are just starting out in their careers or have already retired.
From a generational perspective, millennials dominate the NYC rental market. Millennials make up nearly 40 percent of NYC renters, followed by Gen X at 25 percent. Baby boomers and Gen Z renters make up a smaller share of renters in New York City than nationally — with 21 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
Want to reach more renters in NYC?
Over seven in 10 renters in New York City report using rental search apps and websites like Apartments.com to find their next place.
When you advertise your NYC property on Apartments.com, you’ll get exposure to nearly 2 million renters a month, benefit from exclusively NYC search features, and enjoy the added visibility from hyperlocal marketing across TV, search, and sports in New York City.
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