As overall inflation cools, rent continues to be the biggest factor keeping household costs elevated nationwide. A new analysis from Construction Coverage breaks down which U.S. cities and states now have the highest median rents, using the latest HUD and Census data across more than 380 metros and all 50 states. The findings help explain why many renters aren’t feeling relief despite rising vacancy rates and slowing rent growth. The full study includes state and metro comparisons that show where housing affordability pressures remain most acute—and where rent costs are diverging sharply from national trends.