Rents are right about where Kent'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 $1,702 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 Kent is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2023.
Rent in Kent changed +7.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($42,964) is $1,074 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($870); a 2-bedroom is $1,120.
Cuyahoga Falls, 9 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,411/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kent. 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
Kent, OH is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 47.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kent, OH has changed in 5 years
Rent in Kent, OH has increased 28.1% since 2023, going from about $1,329 per month to roughly $1,702 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $36,799 in 2021 to $42,964 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 11.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 27,912 to 27,116 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.9% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 42.5% to 47.1%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Kent, OH market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Kent on your salary?
At $1,702/mo, how Kent rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kent rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kent. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kent
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kent is $1,702/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,120/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $870/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,380/mo.
At 48% of local median household income ($42,964/yr), Kent ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Kent?
Is rent going up or down in Kent?
How does Kent rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kent?
At $1,702/mo, rent takes ~48% of Kent's median household income ($42,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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