At $1,690/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,690 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 Mentor changed +4.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($88,949) is $2,224 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,850).
Willoughby, 5 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,417/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mentor. 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
Mentor, OH is majority owner-occupied, 24.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mentor, OH has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $56,532 in 2021 to $88,949 more recently. College-educated residents now make up 24.7% of adults here, versus 22% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Mentor on your salary?
At $1,690/mo, how Mentor rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mentor rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mentor. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mentor
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mentor is $1,690/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $980/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,340/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,100/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,720/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($88,949/yr), Mentor ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Mentor?
Is rent going up or down in Mentor?
How does Mentor rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mentor?
At $1,690/mo, rent takes ~23% of Mentor's median household income ($88,949/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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