Rents are 8% below what Norwood'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 $1,259 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
December. Asking rents in Norwood usually run 0.8% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in May, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.
Rent in Norwood is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2019.
Rent in Norwood changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent in Norwood is 57% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($71,611) is $1,790 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,640); a 4-bedroom is $1,820.
Reading, 4 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,045/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Norwood. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Norwood, OH is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 41.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Norwood, OH has changed in 5 years
Rent in Norwood, OH has climbed 39.0% since 2021, going from about $906 per month to roughly $1,259 today. Household income in the area moved from $48,703 to $71,611 across the same window, up 47.0% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 8.0 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. About 52.5% of households rent today, against 57.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 31.3% to 41.3%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Norwood, OH look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Norwood
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Norwood on your salary?
At $1,259/mo, how Norwood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Norwood rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Norwood. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Norwood
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Norwood is $1,259/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $850/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,240/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,640/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($71,611/yr), Norwood ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Norwood?
Is rent going up or down in Norwood?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Norwood?
How does Norwood rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norwood?
At $1,259/mo, rent takes ~21% of Norwood's median household income ($71,611/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Norwood.
No discussions yet.