The Best U.S. Cities for Finding a Roommate

Finding the perfect roommate can be a challenge, especially in cities with competitive housing markets. Whether you’re looking to split costs, make new connections, or secure a spot in a desirable neighborhood, the availability of potential roommates plays a crucial role.

To help renters navigate the search, we analyzed Facebook roommate groups across the largest U.S. cities, ranking them based on total group membership, activity levels, and the number of groups per capita. Keep reading to discover which cities make finding a roommate the easiest!

Key Findings

• New York, NY, has the largest Facebook roommate community, with over 2.7 million members across all groups, far surpassing any other city.
• Poughkeepsie, NY, and Greenville, SC, have the most active roommate listings, each city averaging 304 posts per month, making them top spots for frequent housing opportunities.
• Orlando, FL, leads in roommate groups per capita, with 19.52 groups per 100,000 residents, providing renters with more options to find housing connections.
• California and Texas cities dominate the rankings, with multiple cities from both states ranking among the top for roommate communities.
• New Orleans, LA, is a surprising standout, ranking high in both total community size and groups per capita, despite its smaller population.

The U.S. Cities with the Largest Facebook Roommate Communities

Finding a roommate is often easier in cities with large, active online housing communities. According to our analysis, New York, NY has by far the largest Facebook roommate network, with over 2.7 million members—nearly four times the size of the next-ranked city. With its high cost of living and competitive rental market, it’s no surprise that New York residents rely heavily on these groups to find shared housing. Other major metro areas, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Austin, also rank at the top, reflecting strong demand for roommate arrangements in densely populated, high-rent cities.

1. New York, NY – 2,731,296 total members
2. Los Angeles, CA – 721,613
3. San Francisco, CA – 680,423
4. Chicago, IL – 623,728
5. Austin, TX – 605,958
6. Atlanta, GA – 559,729
7. Boston, MA – 534,137
8. San Diego, CA – 520,679
9. New Orleans, LA – 504,244
10. Washington, DC – 488,067
11. Denver, CO – 448,816
12. Dallas, TX – 394,543
13. San Jose, CA – 394,289
14. Miami, FL – 359,568
15. Seattle, WA – 352,566
16. Houston, TX – 289,881
17. Orlando, FL – 288,306
18. Sacramento, CA – 285,235
19. Portland, OR – 222,389
20. Tampa, FL – 212,445

California and Texas both dominate the rankings, with five California cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose) and three Texas cities (Austin, Dallas, and Houston) making the top 20. New Orleans, LA, ranks ninth despite being smaller than many of the other top cities, likely due to its vibrant tourism industry and high number of short-term and seasonal workers who rely on roommate arrangements. Meanwhile, mid-sized cities like Orlando, FL; Sacramento, CA; and Tampa, FL, also have significant Facebook roommate networks, proving that strong roommate communities aren’t exclusive to the country’s largest metros.

While large membership numbers indicate a broad pool of potential roommates, activity levels within these groups also play a crucial role in making the search easier. In the next section, we’ll highlight which cities have the most active Facebook roommate listings, helping renters find not just a large community, but one that regularly posts new opportunities.

Which Cities Have the Most Active Facebook Roommate Listings?

A large roommate community is helpful, but an active one is even better. Cities with frequent posts in Facebook roommate groups make it easier for renters to find and secure housing quickly. According to our analysis, Poughkeepsie, NY, and Greenville, SC, tie for the top spot, with an impressive 304 posts per month on average. These mid-sized cities may not have the largest roommate communities, but their high posting activity suggests strong demand and engagement among renters.

1. Poughkeepsie, NY* – 304 posts per month on average
2. Greenville, SC* – 304 (tied for first)
3. Madison, WI – 248
4. Washington, DC – 173
5. Honolulu, HI – 162
6. Palm Bay, FL – 153
7. Boston, MA – 151
8. Fort Myers, FL – 145
9. Columbia, SC – 144
10. Buffalo, NY – 124
11. Salt Lake City, UT* – 122
12. Denver, CO* – 122
13. Atlanta, GA – 119
14. San Jose, CA – 114
15. Pittsburgh, PA – 111

Other cities with highly active Facebook roommate groups include Madison, WI (248 posts per month), Washington, DC (173), and Honolulu, HI (162). Washington, DC’s presence on the list aligns with its transient population of young professionals, while Honolulu’s high posting frequency likely reflects the city’s tight housing market and seasonal rental shifts. Florida cities like Palm Bay and Fort Myers also rank among the most active, reinforcing the state’s reputation for frequent moves and short-term rental demand.

High posting activity means renters in these cities are more likely to find fresh listings and responsive potential roommates. But which cities offer the most Facebook roommate groups per capita? In the next section, we’ll highlight where renters have the greatest number of roommate groups relative to their population, offering even more options for those looking to share a home.

*indicates a tie

Looking for a Roommate? These Cities Have the Most Facebook Groups Per Capita

In addition to overall size and activity, another key factor in the roommate search is the number of Facebook groups available per capita. A higher number of groups relative to the population can indicate more options for renters looking to connect with potential roommates. According to our analysis, Orlando, FL, leads the way with 19.52 roommate groups per 100,000 residents, making it the top city for group availability. Given Orlando’s mix of college students, young professionals, and seasonal residents, it makes sense that the city would have a thriving network of roommate-focused communities.

1. Orlando, FL – 19.52 roommate groups per 100,000 residents
2. New Orleans, LA – 16.51
3. Miami, FL – 14.27
4. Atlanta, GA – 13.89
5. Sarasota, FL -13.09
6. Boston, MA – 11.48
7. Charleston, SC – 10.22
8. Daytona Beach, FL – 10.19
9. Austin, TX – 9.14
10. Fort Myers, FL – 8.38
11. Seattle, WA – 8.12
12. Denver, CO – 7.89
13. San Francisco, CA – 7.69
14. New Haven, CT – 7.67
15. Tampa, FL – 7.61

New Orleans, LA (16.51) and Miami, FL (14.27) follow closely behind, reinforcing the trend of Florida and Southern cities having strong roommate networks. Atlanta, GA (13.89), Sarasota, FL (13.09), and Daytona Beach, FL (10.19) also rank high, suggesting that cities with a high percentage of renters and a fluid housing market tend to have more roommate groups per capita. Meanwhile, Boston, MA (11.48) and Charleston, SC (10.22) also make the list, reflecting strong demand for shared housing in historically expensive or high-tourism areas.

With so many roommate groups available in these cities, renters have more choices when searching for the right living situation. To explore the full dataset and see how different cities compare, check out the interactive table below:

Closing Thoughts

Finding a roommate can be an essential strategy for navigating competitive rental markets. Thankfully, our analysis highlights where this process is the easiest. Cities with large, active Facebook roommate communities provide renters with more opportunities to connect, while those with a high number of groups per capita offer greater accessibility for those searching for shared housing. Whether you’re moving to a major metropolitan area or a smaller city with a strong rental network, knowing where to look can make all the difference in securing an ideal living situation.

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Methodology

To determine which U.S. cities make it easiest to find a roommate, we analyzed Facebook group data from the top 100 metropolitan areas. We scraped all groups in each city that included the word “roommates”, excluding those specifically for college students.

From this data, we identified the total number of Facebook roommate groups per city, the average and total number of members, the average number of members per group, the average posts per month, and the number of groups per 100,000 residents.