I like both for different reasons.
When I rent I don’t worry about my choice so much. If I dn’t like the place in a year I can move. Owning, if you make a bad choice it can be a real headache to sell and a major loss of money. Or, you can make a lot of money, it depends on the market.
Owning your home you get more flexibility to decorate how you want from paint to knocking down walls.
Owning also is great when you own your home outright and your only payment is taxes and maintaining the home. Not having to worry about a monthly rent or mortgage payment is very freeing.
Also, freeing is not worrying about fixing or maintaining anything when you rent.
My husband hates renting, so being in a rental is stressful, because I know he wants to get settled in a house. I guess since my family is from NYC renting seems just as normal as owning to me. I think NY’ers are more likely to feel like the apartment is theirs even if they don’t own it.
If I have to pick I think owning is best, because eventually you do own it outright even if it is not one place you stay in forever.