More Americans are finding themselves happy to stay put in their rental property for the long run. (Photo by Just dance on Shutterstock)
In A Nutshell
- Renters are staying longer: The average American renter now spends four years in the same home, and 28% stay at least seven years, with baby boomers leading the trend (41%).
- Conflicted feelings remain: 22% want to move but feel unprepared, while one-third browse listings weekly “for fun.” The most common browsing time is 2:06 p.m.
- Insurance gap is risky: While 40% have renters insurance, one-third report past property damage — leaving many without coverage for major losses like burglary, flooding, or lightning strikes.
NEW YORK — The average American renter now stays in the same home for four years, and 28% stick around for seven years or more. A Talker Research study of 2,000 renters reveals that the old cycle of constantly moving apartments has given way to something different: renters who treat their apartments like permanent homes.
Baby boomers lead this trend, with 41% living in the same rental for at least seven years, followed by Gen X at 28%. About 62% of all renters say they’re unlikely to move before 2025 ends.
Why Renters Feel Torn About Moving
Even as renters stay put longer, many wrestle with conflicted feelings about their living situations. About 22% admit they want a new place but feel unprepared to leave their current home.
This inner conflict shows up in online behavior. One-third of renters browse rental listings at least once a week, even when they have no plans to move. When they do dive into apartment hunting websites, they spend more than 30 minutes scrolling through options, typically around 2:06 p.m.
About 41% of renters agree that scrolling through rental listings is the new form of mindless internet browsing.
“Today’s renters are navigating a tricky mix of uncertainty and aspiration,” said Sean Burgess, chief claims officer at Lemonade, which commissioned the survey. “It’s no wonder so many feel caught between wanting something new and not being ready to let go. Behind every listing is a hope for something better — but the process can be overwhelming.”
Modern renters actively work to make their rental spaces feel like home. Most need about three months for a new place to feel settled, and they typically decide whether to renew their lease within six months of moving in.
Many renters bend apartment rules to achieve this comfort. About 38% make unauthorized modifications like installing storage solutions or fixtures, even when their lease agreements don’t allow such changes.
Social media has changed how renters approach decorating. Gen Z turns to TikTok for inspiration (51%), while older generations prefer YouTube: millennials (38%), Gen X (35%), and baby boomers (22%).
Renters spend an average of 35 minutes weekly looking for renter-friendly decorating tips. Popular sources include Apartment Therapy (14%), DIY Creators/Glen Scott (10%), Chip and Joanna Gaines (10%), House Beautiful (9%), and Architectural Digest (8%).
Renters Insurance Gap Leaves Many Vulnerable to Losses
Despite investing more time and money in their rental homes, fewer than half of renters (40%) carry renters’ insurance. Yet one-third have experienced property damage while renting.
Uninsured renters shared stories of major losses: One respondent lost $5,000 worth of belongings to a lightning strike, while another shared, “I experienced a home burglary once and lost about $15,000 worth of jewelry.” Another said, “Water pipes broke and flooded the apartment from above. I lost everything and didn’t have renters insurance.”
Among renters who experienced property damage, more than one-third (36%) lacked insurance coverage when it happened. For those who did have coverage, 68% received compensation for all or some of their losses, while only 31% found their insurance didn’t cover their damages.
“Moving out, moving on and making a place your own is a big part of growing up,” said Burgess. “But it comes with curveballs — from leaks to break-ins — things happen when you least expect them. Having a safety net in place can make all the difference.”
This data points to a shift in American housing patterns. Renting is no longer viewed as a temporary step before homeownership but as a legitimate long-term housing choice. As renters increasingly treat their apartments as permanent residences worth personalizing and protecting, the rental market may need to adapt to meet these changing expectations.
Methodology: Talker Research conducted this survey for Lemonade between May 22-28, 2025, interviewing 2,000 American renters online. Researchers used quotas and quality controls to screen out rushed responses, inappropriate answers, and duplicate participants. The survey used a non-probability sample, which means the results may not be fully generalizable to all U.S. renters, though findings were calculated with 95% confidence levels.
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.