ORA Power Rankings & Awards
ORA® rankings recognize apartment communities based on resident experience patterns reflected in The ORA Score. Each ranking list is tied to a specific month or year and reflects real renter feedback evaluated across 22 operational categories renters mention most.
Rankings are not promotional placements.
They are structured comparisons based on standardized resident experience signals during a defined period. If you would like to understand how ORA evaluates resident experience before reviewing the lists, visit:
Formal Definition: The ORA Score
The ORA Score is a 0–100, monthly-updated, unbiased resident experience metric for an apartment community. It is based on real renter feedback from 13+ review sites and related sources and evaluated across 22 operational categories renters mention most.
Rankings reference ORA Scores during a specified within the year depending on the list.
A monthly-updated resident experience score based on real renter feedback, designed to help renters compare apartment communities with more confidence.
Strengths:
- Maintenance
- Cleanliness
- Communication
Opportunities:
Parking, Noise
When reviewing rankings, always note the month or year associated with the list. Resident experience can change over time, and rankings reflect the period referenced.
The 2025 Power Rankings recognize apartment communities demonstrating strong resident experience patterns during the designated 2025 ranking period.
December 2025 Elite ORA Power Ranking
The 2025 Elite ORA Power Ranking recognizes the top 1% conventional apartment communities and the top 100 student housing apartment communities that achieved top-tier ORA Score recorded as of December 2025.
September 2025 MSA ORA Power Ranking (1–25)
View the listThe September 2025 MSA Rankings (1–25) highlight top-performing apartment communities within selected metropolitan areas during September 2025.
October 2025 MSA ORA Power Ranking (26–50)
View the listThe October 2025 MSA ORA Power Ranking highlights the top-performing apartment communities based on their September 2025 ORA scores in the top 26-50th largest metropolitan areas within the United States.
June 2025 Best In State ORA Power Ranking
View the listThe June 2025 Best In State ORA Power ranking recognizes the top apartment communities within individual states based on ORA® resident experience patterns during June 2025.
August 2025 Einstein Best Of Awards
View the listThe August 2025 Einstein Best Of Awards recognize apartment communities demonstrating strong resident experience signals across defined operational categories as of July 2025.
How To Interpret ORA Power Rankings
ORA rankings are tied to a specific month and year and reflect ORA Score recorded as of that month.
A strong ORA Score indicates avoidance of sustained negative reviews in critical resident experience categories within the last 6–12 months, suggesting a more predictable resident experience relative to the National Average ORA Score benchmark.
Even high-performing communities can have opportunity areas worth verifying. Rankings recognize performance during a specific month and year. They do not guarantee future outcomes. Because ORA Scores update monthly, a community’s current ORA Score may differ from the month and year referenced in a ranking list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about ORA Power Rankings
Are ORA rankings paid placements?
No. ORA rankings are not influenced by payment or marketing participation.
Do rankings reflect current performance?
Rankings reference ORA Scores during a specific month or year. Because scores update monthly, a community's current score may differ from the ranking period.
Can a community improve after a ranking period?
Yes. ORA Scores update monthly. A community not included in a past ranking may appear in future lists as its resident experience patterns evolve.
Should I rely only on a ranking list?
Rankings are one input. ORA recommends also reviewing the community's current ORA Score, strengths and opportunities, and conducting your own visit before making a decision.