In 2024, the renter population across five Southern California counties reached 9.1 million people. Los Angeles County currently holds the highest number of renters in the United States.
Los Angeles County's 4.82 million renters lead the nation
Los Angeles County has emerged as the primary hub for rental housing in the U.S., with 4.82 million residents renting their homes. According to data from Tenant Talk by Jonathan Lansner, this group represents 50% of the total population in Los Angeles County. The sheer scale of this demographic is staggering; the 9.1 million renters across the five-county Southern California region exceed the total populations of 39 different U.S. states.
While Los Angeles County ranks fifth among the top 20 rental markets in terms of the percentage of the population that rents, its absolute volume is unmatched. The county maintains a density of 1,187 renters per square mile, establishing a baseline for the region's housing dependency.
The 70-fold density gap between New York City and Southern California
A comparison between the West Coast and the East Coast reveals a massive disparity in how renters are distributed. New York City has 5.3 million renters, which is more than the total population of 25 states. However, as reported by the Southern California News Group, New York City's renters are packed into just 243 square miles, resulting in 17,600 renters per square mile.
In contrast, the five Southern California counties span 36,300 square miles. this creates a landscape where Southern California's density of 250 renters per square mile is 70 times lower than that of New York City. This geographic spread is further complicated by governance; while New York City operates under one city government, the Southern California rental market is fragmented across 192 different cities.
From San Diego's 1.38 million to San Bernardino's 38 renters per square mile
The distribution of renters across the Southern California region varies wildly by county. San Diego County ranks sixth nationally with 1.38 million renters, representing 43% of its population. orange County follows closely in seventh place with 1.35 million renters, also accounting for 43% of its residents,though it maintains a higher density of 1,707 renters per square mile.
The inland counties show a different pattern of housing. Riverside County ranks 17th nationally with 764,000 renters, the lowest share among the top 20 markets at 31%. San Bernardino County ranks 18th with 758,000 renters, exhibiting the lowest density in the group with only 38 renters per square mile.
Texas and Florida's presence in the top 20 rental markets
The concentration of renters in California is part of a broader national trend where a few high-growth states dominate the rental landscape. Texas is particularly prominent, with four counties in the top 20: Harris (Houston) at number two with 2 million renters, Dallas at number 11 with 1.2 million, Tarrant (Fort Worth) at number 16 with 794,000, and Bexar (San Antonio) at number 19 with 756 ,000.
Florida also maintains a strong footprint with Miami-Dade (No. 8) and Broward (No. 20) counties. Outside of the Southern California cluster, Santa Clara County is the only other California region to break into the top 20, ranking 15th with 802,000 renters. This suggests that rental dominance is heavily concentrated in specific economic engines like the Silicon Valley and the Houston metro area.
What the 9.1 million figure doesn't say about affordability
While the volume of renters is clear, the data leaves several critical questions unanswered. the report does not specify whether the high renter population in Los Angeles County is a result of lifestyle preference or a systemic lack of affordable homeownership options. Furthermore, there is no data provided on rent inflation or the percentage of income these 9.1 million residents spend on housing.
Because the source focuses exclusively on population counts and density, it remains unclear if the lower rental percentages in Riverside and San Bernardino counties reflect higher homeownership rates or a general population decline in those areas.
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