A new national report suggests renters in Texas face a mixed bag of affordability and limited protections, dropping the Lone Star State into the lower tier.
According to a recent analysis by ConsumerAffairs, Texas ranks in the bottom 10 for renter-friendly states at No. 41, a sharp drop from its No. 22 ranking in the 2025 analysis. It also marks the second-largest drop among states on the list year-over-year.
The report evaluated all 50 states across four key factors: affordability, availability, tenant protections and overall quality of life.
Midwestern and Mountain West states dominated the rankings, with North Dakota, Colorado and Minnesota leading the nation due to lower rents, higher vacancy rates and stronger renter protections. Notably, no Southern state cracked the top 10.
Florida was ranked the worst state for renters, with Arizona and New Mexico close behind.
Why did Texas rank low?
Texas’ placement as No. 41 might be shocking to some. After all, rents in the state are generally lower than the national average and it was ranked No. 2 for rental availability.
But those relatively positive indicators are offset by weaker tenant protections, lower overall quality of life and uneven housing affordability in the state’s fast-growing metro areas, the report found.
Renter-friendly states tend to combine lower housing costs with policies that favor tenants, such as limits on fees or stronger eviction protections. By contrast, many Southern states, including Texas, lean more landlord-friendly. Many lack rent control measures or other statewide protections.
To remain competitive in the rental market, the report suggests Texas may need to balance its pro-growth policies with stronger safeguards for tenants.
See ranked list of best and worst states for renters