Rents are 2% below what Akron's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,176 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Akron usually run 0.6% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in August, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Akron is 0.6% below its high of $1,183 in July 2026, at $1,176 as of September 2026.
Rent in Akron changed +2.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Akron rose 48.4% while median household income rose 24.1% ($38,739 to $48,076). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Akron is 56.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($48,076) is $1,202 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,049); a 3-bedroom is $1,298.
The priciest of 9 ZIP codes in Akron, 44313 ($1,332/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 44304 ($893/mo).
Orrville, 21 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,053/mo), about $1,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Akron. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Akron, OH is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 23.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Akron, OH has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Akron, OH paid around $832 a month. That figure now sits near $1,176, up 41.3% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $42,129 in 2021 to $48,076 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Akron, OH losing about 2,236 residents over the five-year window, down 1.2% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Akron, OH market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Akron on your salary?
At $1,176/mo, how Akron rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Akron rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Akron. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Akron
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Akron is $1,176/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $742/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,049/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $817/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,298/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($48,076/yr), Akron ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Akron rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
At $1,176/mo, rent takes ~29% of Akron's median household income ($48,076/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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