City Report · OH

Plain City

Pop. 3,829·19th most expensive in Ohio·Rental market data updated monthly for Plain City, OH
Median rent (all units)
$1,919/mo
Year-over-Year
+2.4%
Month-over-Month
+1.4%
vs US Median
-$13
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Plain City rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Plain City · $1,919
More expensive than 55% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
20% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,919/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$77,000/yr
Local median income
$117,972/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Plain City's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,150
1 BR
$1,200
2 BR
$1,500
3 BR
$1,810
4 BR+
$2,000
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,500/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,919 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Ohio

Rent in Plain City changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($117,972) is $2,949 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,000).

Cheaper nearby

Hilliard, 7 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,573/mo), about $4,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Plain City. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$23,028/yr
At $1,919/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (2.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+2.4% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Plain City, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 43.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
3,829
Median income
$117,972
Median age
36
Renters
18%
Age distribution
25.8%
21.3%
24.4%
13.1%
15.4%
Under 1825.8%
18–3421.3%
35–5424.4%
55–6413.1%
65+15.4%
Gender
51.8%
48.2%
Male51.8%
Female48.2%
Race & ethnicity
96%
White96%
Hispanic2.3%
Asian0.7%
Other1%
Education (25+)
25.4%
29%
43.5%
No HS diploma2.1%
HS diploma25.4%
Some college29%
Bachelor's+43.5%
Housing tenure
82%
18%
Owner82%
Renter18%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Plain City, OH has changed in 5 years

Income
$80,357 → $117,972
up 46.8%
Population
3,882 → 3,829
down 1.4%
Renter share
31.1% → 18%
-13.1 pts
Bachelor's+
34.6% → 43.5%
+8.9 pts
Median age
39 → 36
-3.0 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $80,357 in 2021 to $117,972 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 3,882 to 3,829 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.4% change. About 18% of households rent today, against 31.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 34.6% to 43.5%.

Community

Discussions about Plain City

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Plain City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Plain City on your salary?

At $1,919/mo, how Plain City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Plain City rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Plain City

About renting in Plain City, OH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Plain City is $1,919/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,150/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,810/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($117,972/yr), Plain City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Plain City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,919/mo in Plain City. The local median household income is $117,972/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Plain City?

Rent in Plain City has risen 2.4% over the past year.

How does Plain City rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Plain City is one of the pricier among Ohio cities for rent, ranking #19 of 125 tracked cities at $1,919/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Plain City changed +2.4%, against a typical +4.3% across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Plain City?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Plain City ($1,919/mo) include Marysville ($1,416/mo), Hilliard ($1,573/mo), and Dublin ($1,732/mo).
Income Affordability
20%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,919/mo, rent takes ~20% of Plain City's median household income ($117,972/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Plain City 20%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.75–3.5%
Run the Plain City affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Plain City
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Plain City, OH

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Plain City.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.