Rents are right about where Hamilton's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,438 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
Rent in Hamilton is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2015.
Rent in Hamilton changed +4.7% 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 Hamilton rose 49.1% while median household income rose 17.2% ($47,064 to $55,166). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Hamilton is 62.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,166) is $1,379 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,205); a 3-bedroom is $1,600.
Middletown, 11 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,287/mo), about $1,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hamilton. 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
Hamilton, OH is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 16.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hamilton, OH has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Hamilton, OH has shifted from $987 to $1,438, up 45.7% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $50,034 in 2021 to $55,166 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Hamilton, OH market of 2021.
Discussions about Hamilton
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Can you afford rent in Hamilton on your salary?
At $1,438/mo, how Hamilton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hamilton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hamilton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hamilton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Hamilton is $1,438/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $830/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,205/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $930/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,600/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($55,166/yr), Hamilton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which Hamilton neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Hamilton rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hamilton?
At $1,438/mo, rent takes ~31% of Hamilton's median household income ($55,166/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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