How do you define high-end living space? Is it endless amenities, a resort-style pool, sweeping views?

A new study from RentCafe defines it as “a feasible rent price, generous square footage, and a coveted location.” And the pragmatic side of us can get onboard.

According to the report two Houston locales are among the best places to rent high-end in Texas—and no, it’s not River Oaks, Memorial, or even The Woodlands.

Humble was named the top Houston-area location to rent a high-quality apartment by RentCafe, which analyzed the average rent and size of apartments that earned an an A+, A, A-, B+ on Yardi’s property scale in more than 600 cities and towns.

In the quiet northeastern suburb, renters can pay an average of $1,191 a month for about a 960-square-foot abode. And about 61 percent of apartments here fall into that A+ through B+ rating. Humble was only outranked by Belton (No. 1) and Amarillo (No. 2) as the top places to rent high-end in Texas.

Kingwood came in as the fifth best rental locale for high-end in Texas, behind No. 4 Bryan, near Texas A&M University.

A few miles even further out of The Beltway than Humble, Kingwood renters can rent a 966-square-foot apartment for about $1,203 a month on average. And they don’t have to look too hard for a nice place: according to the report, 83 percent of apartments here are considered high-end by Yardi standards.

Nationally, smaller Southern towns were the places to be to get the most bang for your buck—all of the top 10 cities were in the South. Seventeen of the 100 best cities for renting high-end apartments were in Georgia. And the Houston metro was outranked by the Greater Atlanta Area, which is home to 11 of the best locations for renters.

Houston proper was absent from the list, even among large cities with populations over 300,000, as were other major metros like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and L.A.—another indicator that residents are willing to move out in exchange for more space (or higher-end properties) in the world of remote work.

“As remote work policies have spread, so have preferences for more space and thoughtful amenities,” the report said. “If anything, this past year has taught us that we should make the most out of where we live. And, for renters eager to find their new and upgraded home, these locations are proof that living large can be within reach.”

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