In these mid-sized rental markets, income growth is strong and rents are relatively affordable. Atlanta is the largest metro in the ranking, followed in size by Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh.
Killeen-Temple, Texas, home to Fort Hood, and Montgomery, Alabama, make Zillow's list as they rank highly in the nation for year-over-year income growth. Both mertros topped 9 percent according to mid-year data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average rentals in these areas cost less than a quarter of median household incomes.
Missouri makes the strongest sweet-spot showing with three metros, including St. Louis and Kansas City, in the top 20. Smaller Springfield is the sweetest spot on the national list, with above-average employment and below-average rents. Its top corporate employer is national retailer Bass Pro Shops, according to the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership.
