The coronavirus crisis appears to not have caused a slowdown in rent growth in Greater Hartford according to new data from the Zillow Group, despite appearing to be linked to the opposite trend in most of the country’s major metro areas.

Average rents for apartments in the area grew by 4.1 percent, to $1,347 per month, the company’s survey of MLS-listed units found. That compares to 2.8 percent annualized growth in March.

Nationally, rent growth slowed in 33 of the 35 largest U.S. metros, with Columbus and Cleveland being the two exceptions, and even fell in 16 of the country’s major rental markets including Austin, Texas and San Jose, California, the company found.

The company said renters, many of whom work in the sectors most affected by pandemic-driven mass layoffs and business failures, are seeking less expensive housing options.

“Housing was in a generally strong position before the pandemic, with low inventory and high prices shutting many would-be buyers out and creating unusually high demand for rentals. Rents soared, making it difficult for many to build emergency savings to tap into at a time like now,” top Zillow economist Skylar Olsen said in a statement. “We’re seeing rents slow now as some people are no doubt pursuing more-affordable options such as moving back in with parents, moving to a less-expensive area or doubling up in instances where it can be done safely.”

Downtown Hartford has seen a spate of new multifamily projects built or converted from office buildings in the last two years, with more on the way as RMS Cos. seeks to build long-stalled multifamily buildings near Dunkin Donuts Stadium. However, lease-up of new buildings downtown has been slow in recent weeks thanks to the pandemic.