There’s nothing wrong with being a renter, says the guy who grew up in a rent-controlled apartment in New York City.
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My hometown is considered the nation’s mecca for renters because the five-county city packs in lots of tenants. But my trusty spreadsheet, reviewing the latest Census Bureau data on county population, tells me that Southern California and its five counties are somewhat in the same neighborhood.
There were 9.1 million people living in rental housing in 2024 across Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. That’s a flock larger than the combined populations of 39 states, regardless of whether they own or rent. All five local counties also are among the nation’s top 20 for renter population.
Meanwhile, New York City has 5.3 million renters, or more than the total population of 25 states. Four of its five counties – locals call them “boroughs” – are among the nation’s top 20 for renter population.
So, the population argument says Southern California is No. 1.
Intensity counts
This New York native knows the Big Apple comes with plenty of intense issues, notably renters.
Ponder the share of the population who live in rentals. In New York City, 64% of the population rents. In Southern California, it’s 44%.
Next, look at the physical size of the two regions. New York City covers 243 square miles of land. The five Southern California counties are massive with 36,300 square miles of land – larger than 11 states.
This translates to 17,600 renters per square mile in New York City. That’s 70 times denser living than the 250 per square mile in Southern California.
Next, eyeball local governance. It can affect renters.
New York’s got one city government. There are 192 cities in the five Southern California counties.
California dreaming
How do the rental populations of Southern California counties compare?
– Los Angeles: Its 4.82 million renters make it the nation’s No. 1 spot for tenants. That equals 50% of the population, the fifth-highest share among the Top 20 U.S. rental markets. It has 1,187 renters per square mile.
– San Diego: 1.38 million renters, No. 6 nationally, equaling 43% of the population, No. 9 of the Top 20. It has 327 renters per square mile.
– Orange County: 1.35 million renters, No. 7 nationally, equaling 43% of the population, No. 8 of the Top 20. It has 1,707 renters per square mile.
– Riverside County: 764,000 renters – No. 17 nationally, equaling 31% of the population, the lowest share of the Top 20. Only 106 renters per square mile.
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– San Bernardino: 758,000 renters – No. 18 nationally, equaling 35% of the population, fourth-lowest of the Top 20. Only 38 renters per square mile.
Big Apple slices
Consider how Southern California compares to New York’s counties:
– Kings County, better known as Brooklyn: 1.72 million renters, No. 4 nationally, equaling 67% of the population, No. 3 in the Top 20. There are 24,782 renters per square mile.
– Queens County, my home borough: 1.21 million renters, No. 9 nationally, equaling 53% of the population, No. 4 in the Top 20. There are 11,094 renters per square mile.
– New York County, a.k.a. Manhattan: 1.17 million renters, No. 10 nationally, equaling 74% of the population, No. 2 of the Top 20. There are 51,471 renters per square mile.
– Bronx County: 1.05 million renters, No. 12, equaling 79% of the population, No. 1 of the Top 20, and 24,879 renters per square mile.
– Richmond County: You know the city’s smallest borough as Staten Island. It’s got 14,000 renters – ranking No. 152 nationally – which equals 29% of the population. Or 2,433 renters per square mile.
Postscript
What other counties are in the renters’ top 20?
One is from California: No. 15 Santa Clara, home to San Jose, with 802,000 renters.
Four are from Texas: No. 2 Harris (Houston), 2 million renters; No. 11 Dallas, 1.2 million renters; No. 16 Tarrant (Fort Worth), 794,000 renters; and No. 19 Bexar (San Antonio), 756,000 renters.
Two are from Florida: No. 8 Miami-Dade, 1.3 million renters, and No. 20 Broward (Fort Lauderdale), 700,000 renters.
Then there’s No. 3 Cook (Chicago), Illinois, with 1.9 million renters; No. 5 Maricopa (Phoenix), Arizona, with 1.5 million renters; No. 13 Clark (Las Vegas), Nevada, with 947,000 renters; and No. 14 King (Seattle), Washington, with 896,000 renters.
“Tenant Talk” by Jonathan Lansner is a look into the world of renting. Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]
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