When the cost and quality of living meet, Denver ends up right in the middle.
In a new WalletHub study ranking 182 U.S. cities from best to worst places to rent, Denver did well in such areas as weather and access to recreation, coming in 61st when it comes to quality of life. The finance website put Denver 140th on affordability. Combine those two rankings and Denver was the 90th best place to rent.
Scottsdale, Arizona -- 63rd for affordability and first for quality of life -- topped the list. At the bottom was Bridgeport, Connecticut, which was 180th for affordability and 145th for quality of life.
The affordability factors included the online real estate company Zillow's forecast that median rents in Denver will rise 4.59 percent over the next year. Other factors included a Denver vacancy rate of 4.4 percent, which puts pressure on prices. WalletHub also cited a 7.5 percent rise in Denver rents since 2017 and the sobering data point that almost a quarter of Denver renter households are spending at least half their income on housing, making them severely cost burdened.
