Columbus rents are up 25% in five years, but still take about 26% of median income
The typical rent in Columbus, Ohio is $1,450 a month, up 2.6% over the past year. Over five years the climb's steeper, with rent up 24.6% since August 2021, when it was $1,164.
That's still a manageable number for a lot of households. Against the city's median household income of $66,082, typical rent takes about 26.3%, under the 30% line most budget guides use, and our rent rule of thumb explains where that line comes from. For a comparison within the state, see the catch with Cleveland's cheap rent.
Zip | Area | Typical rent | 1-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
German Village, Merion Village | $1,729 | +5.0% | |
Short North, University District | $1,667 | +4.3% | |
Canal Winchester area | $1,653 | +2.5% | |
Clintonville north, Beechwold | $1,641 | +3.0% | |
Clintonville south, Old North | $1,597 | +3.6% | |
Downtown, Victorian Village | $1,579 | +1.3% | |
Polaris | $1,548 | +5.2% | |
East side near Whitehall | $1,542 | +5.8% | |
Grandview, Fifth by Northwest | $1,509 | +2.2% | |
Northwest side | $1,436 | +3.5% | |
West side, Westgate | $1,392 | +1.2% | |
Olde Towne East, Driving Park | $1,388 | +1.7% | |
Hilltop, southwest side | $1,373 | +7.3% | |
Southeast side, Eastland | $1,356 | +1.5% | |
Northland | $1,335 | +5.0% | |
Northeast side, Easton | $1,314 | +7.5% | |
South side | $1,298 | +4.1% | |
Linden | $1,289 | +2.0% | |
Near East Side, King-Lincoln | $1,248 | +1.8% | |
North Linden | $1,168 | +0.2% |
The Northeast side and the Hilltop rose fastest
The Northeast side around Easton (43219) rose 7.5% to $1,314, the biggest gain in the table, and the Hilltop and southwest side (43223) rose 7.3% to $1,373. Both still sit below the citywide typical rent of $1,450. The East side near Whitehall (43227) was next, up 5.8%.
German Village and Merion Village (43206) is the city's priciest zip at $1,729, and North Linden (43224) is the cheapest at $1,168, a gap of $561 a month. The Near East Side ($1,248) and Linden ($1,289) aren't far behind North Linden.
No Columbus zip saw rent fall
Rent rose in all 20 zips in the table, though barely in some. North Linden (43224) was up just 0.2%, and the West side (43204) and Downtown and Victorian Village (43215) rose 1.2% and 1.3%. The Short North and University District (43201), around Ohio State University, rose 4.3% to $1,667.
Landlords are discounting, too. In the Columbus metro, 47.9% of rental listings offered a concession in July, according to Zillow, well above the national share of 39.8%. That's room to ask for a free month or a lower rate, and our guide to negotiating your rent walks through how it's done.
Sources
RentDataNow Columbus rent data, city and zip code rents anchored to the Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026
Zillow Research, July 2026 rent report, for concession shares
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, for median household income
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Columbus, Ohio?
Typical rent in Columbus was $1,450 a month in August 2026, up 2.6% from a year earlier and 24.6% since August 2021. By zip code it ranged from $1,168 in North Linden to $1,729 in German Village.
What is the cheapest zip code to rent in Columbus?
North Linden (43224), at a typical $1,168 a month in August 2026. The Near East Side and King-Lincoln (43203) was next at $1,248, followed by Linden (43211) at $1,289.
Is Columbus rent going up?
Yes, modestly. Typical rent rose 2.6% over the year ending in August 2026, and it rose in all 20 zip codes we track. The Northeast side around Easton rose fastest at 7.5%, while North Linden barely moved, up 0.2%.
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Jennifer Han is the editor in chief of RentDataNow, covering rent trends, housing costs, and more. She was a real-estate agent before she moved to writing about the market.
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