Best Rental Markets in Florida (2026)
Data updated May 2026 · 212 cities screened
Florida's median home value is $377,578 with a median rent of $1,812/mo across our 212 investable cities. At 5.8% annual rent-to-price (90th percentile nationally), it leans toward cash-flow territory — rents are large relative to what you pay for the house.
Top Florida cities for cash flow
Ranked by annual rent ÷ median home value. Higher means the rent check is bigger relative to what you paid — the first screen for a cash-flowing rental.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lauderdale Lakes | $137,559 | $1,961/mo | 17.1% | 36,404 |
| 2 | Ojus | $213,033 | $2,451/mo | 13.8% | 19,198 |
| 3 | Lauderhill | $210,175 | $1,899/mo | 10.8% | 74,896 |
| 4 | Deerfield Beach | $273,836 | $2,425/mo | 10.6% | 88,093 |
| 5 | Coconut Creek | $282,180 | $2,351/mo | 10.0% | 58,330 |
| 6 | Delray Beach | $340,609 | $2,776/mo | 9.8% | 67,979 |
| 7 | Palm Springs | $269,262 | $2,126/mo | 9.5% | 27,356 |
| 8 | Holly Hill | $202,118 | $1,579/mo | 9.4% | 13,084 |
| 9 | Sun City Center | $273,435 | $2,129/mo | 9.3% | 33,548 |
| 10 | Holiday | $223,119 | $1,703/mo | 9.2% | 22,785 |
Most affordable entry points
Lowest median home values — where a first deal or a limited budget goes furthest. Cheap is not automatically good: check rent and condition before assuming a bargain.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lauderdale Lakes | $137,559 | $1,961/mo | 17.1% | 36,404 |
| 2 | Holly Hill | $202,118 | $1,579/mo | 9.4% | 13,084 |
| 3 | Lauderhill | $210,175 | $1,899/mo | 10.8% | 74,896 |
| 4 | Avon Park | $210,772 | $1,416/mo | 8.1% | 10,057 |
| 5 | Palatka | $211,190 | $1,342/mo | 7.6% | 10,650 |
| 6 | Ojus | $213,033 | $2,451/mo | 13.8% | 19,198 |
| 7 | Holiday | $223,119 | $1,703/mo | 9.2% | 22,785 |
| 8 | Sebring | $241,650 | $1,553/mo | 7.7% | 11,382 |
| 9 | Lake Wales | $244,739 | $1,462/mo | 7.2% | 16,785 |
| 10 | South Daytona | $248,200 | $1,549/mo | 7.5% | 13,543 |
Fastest rent growth
Year-over-year change in Zillow's observed rent index. Rising rents lift future cash flow — but verify the driver (jobs and population, not a one-year blip).
| # | City | Rent Growth YoY | Median Rent | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Hill | 12.8% | $1,579/mo | $202,118 |
| 2 | Brownsville | 11.4% | $2,454/mo | $429,536 |
| 3 | Fernandina Beach | 11.2% | $2,408/mo | $605,961 |
| 4 | Marco Island | 11.2% | $5,044/mo | $858,882 |
| 5 | New Smyrna Beach | 7.9% | $2,314/mo | $450,868 |
| 6 | Key Biscayne | 7.5% | $8,550/mo | $1,674,011 |
| 7 | Key Largo | 6.8% | $2,942/mo | $1,092,893 |
| 8 | Palm City | 6.4% | $2,551/mo | $617,894 |
| 9 | Gibsonton | 5.9% | $2,318/mo | $318,901 |
| 10 | Jacksonville Beach | 5.7% | $2,542/mo | $642,238 |
Florida fundamentals for landlords
The state-level numbers that shape every deal here — what taxes and law take out of the rent check, and whether demand is growing.
Annual tax as a share of home value (Tax Foundation). Comes straight out of cash flow.
Top marginal state rate (Tax Foundation) — what your rental profit is taxed at in-state.
Composite of rent control, eviction timeline, deposit caps, and notice rules in state statute.
Census ACS. People moving in = housing demand; sustained decline is the risk flag.
BLS, latest month. Tenant quality and vacancy risk track the job market.
Census BPS, latest year. Heavy new supply competes with your unit at renewal time.
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Affects insurance, tenant pool, and appreciation.
FEMA declarations — a proxy for insurance cost and climate exposure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rental market in Florida for cash flow?
By rent-to-price ratio, Lauderdale Lakes leads Florida at 17.1% — a median rent of $1,961/mo against a $137,559 median home value (Zillow, May 2026).
Does Florida pass the 1% rule?
At state medians — $1,812 rent on a $377,578 home — monthly rent is 0.48% of the purchase price, so the median Florida deal falls short of the 1% screen. Individual cities can still clear it — see the table above.
Is Florida landlord-friendly?
Florida scores 78/100 on our landlord-friendliness composite (rent control status, eviction timeline, deposit caps, notice requirements) — friendlier to owners than 66% of states.
How high are property taxes in Florida?
The effective property tax rate is 0.89% of home value per year (Tax Foundation) — on the median $377,578 home, roughly $3,360 a year off your cash flow.
Compare with similar states
Texas · Louisiana · Oklahoma · West Virginia · Mississippi
About this data: compiled by RehabRange from Zillow Research (ZHVI home values, ZORI rents), U.S. Census Bureau (ACS population and income, Building Permits Survey), Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment), FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA, and Tax Foundation. Last updated May 2026.
RehabRange is built by Mitchell Haughton, a practicing eastern-Connecticut real estate investor — the same screens he runs before walking a property. How we rank markets