Incomes outpacing rent hikes for first time in years: Zillow

The Hill
by Andrew Dorn
April 23, 2026
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Incomes are now outpacing rent increases for the first time in several years.

How This Affects You

Your earnings are growing faster than your housing costs, potentially improving affordability and spending power.

AI Summary

Zillow reports that incomes are now outpacing rent increases for the first time in several years. This trend is driven by a significant slowdown in rent growth, which reached its slowest annual pace since 2020 at 1.8% in March. This development offers financial relief to renters, as their earnings are growing faster than their housing costs. For many households, this shift could improve affordability and spending power after a period of rapid rent inflation.

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Rents around the U.S. are growing more slowly than they have in years
Finance

Rents around the U.S. are growing more slowly than they have in years

The cost of renting a home, which surged during the pandemic, is showing signs of returning to earth, new data shows.

CBS NewsApr 22
Dominican Republic and Haiti to reopen airspace in May, restoring flights after more than 2 years - AP News
Global

Dominican Republic and Haiti to reopen airspace in May, restoring flights after more than 2 years - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPajhzelh5a3BYSkg2amcyUlVVQ2dFajBWbm1TbVVHdTBrLUFRSTR0MEdSLUlwWXpNRm9NUzN5ZVZqaE9DZEZ1ZlhCOEdKeUp0Tk1NbTFmbG1UelBHbEZoNXdjWnFob1JEQlFUT2ZUNnBWamNmWmhEalNacXBYSDB2bEJnUTJhTl9pNElFXzQ3TUJfMzJPMTdCWmlpTjhnOVk5UGhr?oc=5" target="_blank">Dominican Republic and Haiti to reopen airspace in May, restoring flights after more than 2 years</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsApr 18
US drivers turn to EV rentals as gasoline prices surge - Reuters
Finance

US drivers turn to EV rentals as gasoline prices surge - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPYzdsRXhsTzU0QzRxZFQxY1NaUEJVc3ZaRUpmbU5jNzdHQjE0cHhPcm0wNmNvZmJHQ1NmUDhjdTB3LUtUd3RYTTAtejJ4bnJpM1ZxWC1INVR0RzQ5SUxDM0QtMWt3bHRGQ2tQVU9GVlBWWmsxcXZQNHY2clExaTdoRENoT3Fib193UjRIWTAyX2U4dHdlcEZGYjVwa1d2RnU4V21uMDVvOUZWeE5ZM3dNNWJ0ajg?oc=5" target="_blank">US drivers turn to EV rentals as gasoline prices surge</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersApr 23
Senegal says debt ‘fully transparent,’ aligned with IMF figures - Reuters
Finance

Senegal says debt ‘fully transparent,’ aligned with IMF figures - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxNZUp5c21YVEd1X09qZGxxRzFPakw4UUVPSmMyNkhteV9zc0RSVC1ldF9pUFdwN3dSd2xXcjU4QUFfdmoxeGlITk56NENnaDVRRlBJWkhXZHhnWHlkMjB4ZnBYM3gxVjRGb2RyUGp4SXhubWU2S2h1Ynp6X01ZQ3dqTFB4ZzRHeUtmbFZlRG81X1B3Mnp6WEk2aXNURUdOYjRTZzg0NzBzZUY3blBIRGc?oc=5" target="_blank">Senegal says debt ‘fully transparent,’ aligned with IMF figures</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersApr 21
“A Punch in the Gut”: After Years of Waiting, Many Opioid Victims Will Be Shut Out of Purdue Settlement
Corporate

“A Punch in the Gut”: After Years of Waiting, Many Opioid Victims Will Be Shut Out of Purdue Settlement

The post “A Punch in the Gut”: After Years of Waiting, Many Opioid Victims Will Be Shut Out of Purdue Settlement appeared first on ProPublica .

ProPublicaApr 23
The ‘unregistered Americans’: because of their parents, they do not exist
Civil Rights

The ‘unregistered Americans’: because of their parents, they do not exist

<p>Hundreds in the US have no birth certificate or Social Security number. Some covet this ‘off-grid’ status – but it means being barred from ordinary life</p><p>Sam Bishop is 26 years old and lives in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has red hair, a quiet voice – and, legally speaking, he does not exist.</p><p>There is no document anywhere that proves Sam was born.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/21/unregistered-americans-sovereign-citizen">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsApr 21
Read Next
A $440,000 Breast Reduction: How Doctors Cashed In on the No Surprises Act and Arbitration
Finance

A $440,000 Breast Reduction: How Doctors Cashed In on the No Surprises Act and Arbitration

A law meant to end surprise medical billing accidentally created a multibillion-dollar industry that is making doctors richer.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources