Oilfield city of Williston, North Dakota, has highest rents in US
Influx of highly paid workers in Williston, N Dakota, makes it pricier than New York
The rapidly growing oil city of Williston in North Dakota now has the highest average rent in the United States, a study shows.
A 700 sq ft, one-bedroom apartment in Williston costs an average of US$2,394 a month, said Apartment Guide, an online website for apartment hunters.
The same flat would cost US$1,504 in the New York area, US$1,411 in the Los Angeles area or US$1,537 in the Boston area, the Williston Herald reported.
The population of Williston, in the northwest corner of the state not far from the Montana border, has more than doubled since the 2010 census.
Estimates put the number of people within the city's limits at more than 30,000.
The city and developers have lagged behind the influx of oilfield workers, some of whom earn six-figure annual salaries. Their presence has led to hugely inflated rents and a shake-up in housing supply and demand.
"A lot of management companies have long-term projects in the pipeline, as long as the demand and infrastructure are there," said Pam Winter, Apartment Guide's Regional Sales Executive for North Dakota.