Anyone who has ever rented an apartment or house before understands that one of the major requirements is a good credit score.
According to a recent study published by RentCafe, the average credit score for approved apartment applicants nationwide sits at 650. In big cities, the average score tends to be even higher – for example, in Boston the average approved score is 737.
For those just trying to build up their credit, or trying to recover from past missteps, this can make renting an apartment close to impossible without having a guarantor.
Luckily, Jacksonville is among the friendliest major cities in the nation when it comes to credit score approval for renters.
According to the study, Jacksonville ranked 31st out of 50 among the cities examined, with an average approved score of 635 – fifteen points below the national average.
For those looking to rent an apartment on their own for the first time, or those trying to bounce back from low credit, this makes Jacksonville a much more attractive living option than cities higher up the list such as Boston or San Francisco.
Of course, this number likely stands to rise over the coming years, as Jax continues its boom of growth making the rental market more competitive. But at least for right now, renters without excellent credit can still count on having somewhat of an advantage in Jacksonville.