No. 18: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.

Average monthly rent: $1,571
Annual drop: -7.9%
Q4 2009 drop: -0.8%

The Greater Los Angeles area—core of the country’s entertainment industry and home to Walt Disney, Northrop Grumman, and Occidental Petroleum—saw unemployment climb last year to 12% or 584,300 people in December. The vacancy rate in this major business hub was 6.3% and new apartment stock is planned, with permits for 2,700 units issued last year.