How much does it cost to rent in Kent, OH?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Kent, OH is $1,538. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Kent cheaper than other Ohio cities?

Kent falls in the middle range for Ohio, ranking #55 out of 124 cities at $1,538/mo.

When was Kent rent data last updated?

Kent rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Kent, OH?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Kent, OH at $1,120 per month, which is 27% below the $1,538 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · OH

Kent

Name: Average Rent Prices in Kent, OH
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 27,116·55th most expensive in Ohio·Rental market data updated monthly for Kent, OH

Median rent (all units)

$1,538/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.9%

Month-over-Month

+10.5%

vs US Median

-$424

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Kent · $1,538

More affordable than 73% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

69/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Kent's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,538/mo

Expected by trend

$1,697/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Kent's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$790

1 BR

$870

2 BR

$1,120

3 BR

$1,380

4 BR+

$1,490

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,120/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,538 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$18,456/yr

At $1,538/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 1.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.9% YoY, +10.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

27,116

Median income

$42,964

Median age

23.8

Renters

59.2%

Age distribution

12.5%

52.9%

16.2%

Under 1812.5%

18–3452.9%

35–5416.2%

55–647%

65+11.4%

Gender

44.6%

55.4%

Male44.6%

Female55.4%

Race & ethnicity

81.9%

White81.9%

Black8.5%

Hispanic2.5%

Asian3.6%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

26.8%

20.9%

47.1%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma26.8%

Some college20.9%

Bachelor's+47.1%

Housing tenure

40.8%

59.2%

Owner40.8%

Renter59.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Kent, OH has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,150 → $1,538

up 33.7%

Income

$36,799 → $42,964

up 16.8%

Population

27,912 → 27,116

down 2.9%

Renter share

59.8% → 59.2%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

42.5% → 47.1%

+4.6 pts

Rent in Kent, OH has increased 33.7% since 2023, going from about $1,150 per month to roughly $1,538 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 16.9 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.

Community

Discussions about Kent

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View Kent rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Kent on your salary?

At $1,538/mo, how Kent rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 20.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 29.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 25.4% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 14.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 11.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 31.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 34.6% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

Kent rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Kent. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Kent

About renting in Kent, OH

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Kent is $1,538/mo as of August 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 43% of local median household income ($42,964/yr), Kent ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Kent an affordable city for renters?

Kent is considered stretched for renters. At $1,538/mo, rent takes approximately 43% of the local median household income ($42,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Kent significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Kent?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,538/mo in Kent. The local median household income is $42,964/yr, meaning the typical Kent household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Kent?

Rent in Kent has decreased 1.9% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Kent rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Kent is middle-of-the-pack for Ohio for rent, ranking #55 out of 124 tracked cities at $1,538/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kent?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Kent ($1,538/mo): Akron ($1,137/mo), Cuyahoga Falls ($1,469/mo), North Canton ($1,481/mo).

What percentage of Kent residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 59.2% of Kent households are renters, while 40.8% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Kent has a strong rental market.