Rents are 8% below what Kettering'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 $1,355 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 Kettering usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in October, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Kettering is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2020.
Rent in Kettering changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent in Kettering is 47% 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 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($74,681) is $1,867 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,615).
Shiloh, 10 miles away, rents for 22% less ($1,058/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kettering. 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
Kettering, OH is majority owner-occupied, 41.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kettering, OH has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Kettering, OH paid around $984 a month. That figure now sits near $1,355, up 37.7% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $65,054 in 2021 to $74,681 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 38.6% to 41.7% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Kettering, OH market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Kettering on your salary?
At $1,355/mo, how Kettering rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kettering rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kettering. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kettering
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kettering is $1,355/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $820/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,130/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $885/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,455/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($74,681/yr), Kettering ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kettering?
At $1,355/mo, rent takes ~22% of Kettering's median household income ($74,681/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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