08/24/2026
First-time buyers need local math, not national guesses, because rent, prices, appreciation, and loan costs vary so much by city.
This article compares renting versus buying across 136 U.S. cities, using FHA-style ownership costs, local rents, and recent price appreciation. The big takeaway is that buying came out ahead in 41% of the cities studied, while renting still made more sense in the rest. That’s a helpful reminder f...