How RentLemon works
How your score is calculated
We compare your rent to similar listings in your area using a two-step process.
First we combine renter-submitted rents and verified landlord data to estimate what similar units are going for across Pittsburgh, weighted by how reliable each observation is.
Then we adjust for your neighborhood using HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent research — because a fair price in Shadyside is different from a fair price in Carrick.
What the labels mean
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Great Deal | More than 10% below market median |
| Fair Price | Within 10% of market median |
| Overpriced | 10-25% above market median |
| Bad Deal | More than 25% above market median |
Where the data comes from
RentLemon scores are built from three layers of data, weighted by reliability:
- Renter submissions
Rents submitted by real renters like you. Every time someone checks their rent it adds to our dataset. This is our highest quality signal.
- Verified landlord data
Landlords who claim their listing can verify and update pricing directly. Verified listings are weighted more heavily in our analysis.
- HUD Fair Market Rent research
We use HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents to adjust scores for neighborhood pricing variation. A fair price in Shadyside is not the same as a fair price in Carrick. HUD publishes this research annually across every ZIP code in the Pittsburgh metro area.
The more renters and landlords who participate, the more accurate scores become for everyone.
Results are estimates for informational use only.
Confidence levels
- High confidence
15+ comparable listings found
- Medium confidence
8-14 comparable listings
- Low confidence
Fewer than 8 listings — score uses Pittsburgh market average adjusted for your neighborhood
Questions?
Contact us at contact@rentlemon.com