Boston area rents plateaued last year, but remain some of the highest in the U.S.

Boston remains one of the most expensive rental markets in the country, according to new data from Realtor.com.

The median price for a typical apartment in Greater Boston last year was $2,700, according to the site — the sixth highest in the country. Only Miami, San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco beat out the region.

Rents in Greater Boston rose only slightly last year, even as they skyrocketed 19% nationwide.

But the high cost and constant turnover make it hard to find an apartment in the Boston area, said Justin Giuliano, an agent with Commonwealth Standard Realty, who mostly handles properties in Allston, Brighton and Brookline.

"As far as professionals coming back to the city in earnest [they] are needing to make decisions very quickly," he said.

Realtor.com's data compared rents in December 2020 to December 2021 in the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. It included apartments with two-bedrooms or fewer.

Experts say many factors are responsible for the rent increases, including a nationwide shortage of housing.

Rising rents are also an increasing driver of high inflation in the U.S. Analysts expect rents to continue to rise this year, but at a slower pace, thanks to increased construction.

With reporting by WBUR's Ally Jarmanning and The Associated Press