Rents are right about where Reading's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,045 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 Reading is 1.8% below its high of $1,064 in June 2026, at $1,045 as of September 2026.
Rent in Reading changed +2.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($61,866) is $1,547 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,187).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Reading. 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
Reading, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 24.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Reading, OH has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Reading, OH stood at $960 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,045, reflecting a 8.9% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Reading, OH now reports about $61,866, up from $56,929 in 2021. Renters now make up 41.5% of households, compared with 39.6% five years ago. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Reading, OH reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Reading on your salary?
At $1,045/mo, how Reading rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Reading rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Reading. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Reading
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Reading is $1,045/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $879/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,033/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $821/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,187/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($61,866/yr), Reading ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Reading rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
At $1,045/mo, rent takes ~20% of Reading's median household income ($61,866/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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