8. New Haven, CT

Forbes.com: The Worst Cities for Renters

MSA: New Haven-Milford, CT Average Monthly Rent: $1,604
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.1% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 4.1%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $59 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Michael J. Ivins/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Introduction With the help of Marcus & Millichap, Forbes ranked the 44 largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Metropolitan Divisions (MSDs) according to four criteria: average rent in 2012’s first quarter; how much that price has changed year-over-year; vacancy rates; and the difference between the average monthly rental payment versus monthly mortgage payments (including taxes and insurance on a home at the local median asking price with a 30-year mortgage at 4.5% with 20% down).

(Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
10. Santa Ana, C... MSA: Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA
Average Monthly Rent: $1,516
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.4% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 3.7%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $880 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
9. Los Angeles, ... MSA: Los Angeles-Long Beach- Glendale, CA
Average Monthly Rent: $1,398
Change in Rent year-over-year: 1.9% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 3.7%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $31 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. New Haven, CT MSA: New Haven-Milford, CT Average Monthly Rent: $1,604
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.1% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 4.1%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $59 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Michael J. Ivins/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
7. Oakland, CA MSAD: Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA
Average Monthly Rent: $1,318
Change in Rent year-over-year: 3% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 3.5%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $1,029 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
6. Washington, D... MSA: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Average Monthly Rent: $1,419
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.6% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 4%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $205 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
5. Boston, MA Worst Cities To Rent, No. 5: Boston, MA MSAD: Boston-Quincy, MA Average Monthly Rent: $1,752 Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.1% increase First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 3.8% Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $58 cheaper to own

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. San Jose, CA MSA: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Average Monthly Rent: $1,520
Change in Rent year-over-year: 4.3% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 2.6%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $1,050 cheaper to rent

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
3. San Francisco... MSAD: San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA
Average Monthly Rent: $1,901
Change in Rent year-over-year: 5.1% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 3.1%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $1,259 cheaper to rent

(Credit: GeorgeDoyle/Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. Minneapolis-S... MSA: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Average Monthly Rent: $965
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.3% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 2.5%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent
Payment: $122 cheaper to own

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. New York, NY MSAD: New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ
Average Monthly Rent: $2,902
Change in Rent year-over-year: 2.6% increase
First Quarter Vacancy Rate: 2%
Mortgage Payment v. Rent Payment: $217 cheaper to own

(Credit: Thinkstock)

More From Forbes:
The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now
American Cities With The Most Construction Underway
America's Most Affordable Cities

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
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