City Report · OH

Stow

Pop. 34,240·52nd most expensive in Ohio·Stow rents are up 9.2% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,537/mo
Year-over-Year
+9.2%
Month-over-Month
-1.0%
vs US Median
-$395
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Stow · $1,537
More affordable than 73% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
20% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,537/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$61,000/yr
Local median income
$93,727/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Stow's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$910
1 BR
$1,000
2 BR
$1,290
3 BR
$1,590
4 BR+
$1,720
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,290/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,537 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

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Ohio

Rent in Stow changed +9.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($93,727) is $2,343 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,720).

Cheaper nearby

Akron, 8 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,176/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$18,444/yr
At $1,537/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 9.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+9.2% YoY, -1.0% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Stow, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
34,240
Median income
$93,727
Median age
41.5
Renters
28%
Age distribution
20.3%
22%
24.7%
13.4%
19.5%
Under 1820.3%
18–3422%
35–5424.7%
55–6413.4%
65+19.5%
Gender
49.7%
50.3%
Male49.7%
Female50.3%
Race & ethnicity
85.6%
White85.6%
Black4.3%
Hispanic1.2%
Asian4.3%
Other4.6%
Education (25+)
23.9%
24.2%
48%
No HS diploma3.9%
HS diploma23.9%
Some college24.2%
Bachelor's+48%
Housing tenure
72%
28%
Owner72%
Renter28%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Stow, OH has changed in 5 years

Income
$80,523 → $93,727
up 16.4%
Population
34,556 → 34,240
down 0.9%
Renter share
29.4% → 28%
-1.4 pts
Bachelor's+
50.3% → 48%
-2.3 pts
Median age
40.3 → 41.5
+1.2 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $93,727 today, compared with $80,523 five years earlier. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 50.3% to 48%.

Community

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View Stow rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Stow on your salary?

At $1,537/mo, how Stow rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Stow rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Stow

About renting in Stow, OH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Stow is $1,537/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,290/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,590/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($93,727/yr), Stow ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Stow?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,537/mo in Stow. The local median household income is $93,727/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Stow?

Rent in Stow has risen 9.2% over the past year.

How does Stow rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Stow is in the middle among Ohio cities for rent, ranking #52 of 125 tracked cities at $1,537/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Stow changed +9.2%, against a typical +4.3% across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Stow?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Stow ($1,537/mo) include Akron ($1,176/mo), Fairlawn ($1,337/mo), and Cuyahoga Falls ($1,411/mo).
Income Affordability
20%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,537/mo, rent takes ~20% of Stow's median household income ($93,727/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

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

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Stow, OH

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