City Report · OH

Wooster

Pop. 26,971·57th most expensive in Ohio·Rental market data updated monthly for Wooster, OH
Median rent (all units)
$1,475/mo
Year-over-Year
+0.8%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
vs US Median
-$457
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Wooster · $1,475
More affordable than 77% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,475/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$59,000/yr
Local median income
$66,898/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Wooster's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$670
1 BR
$750
2 BR
$970
3 BR
$1,190
4 BR+
$1,360
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$970/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,475 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 Wooster changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($66,898) is $1,672 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,360).

Cheaper nearby

Orrville, 11 miles away, rents for 29% less ($1,053/mo), about $5,100 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$17,700/yr
At $1,475/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.8% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Wooster, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 36.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
26,971
Median income
$66,898
Median age
40.1
Renters
34.8%
Age distribution
17.2%
28%
21.3%
12.6%
20.9%
Under 1817.2%
18–3428%
35–5421.3%
55–6412.6%
65+20.9%
Gender
46.6%
53.4%
Male46.6%
Female53.4%
Race & ethnicity
88.7%
White88.7%
Black2.3%
Hispanic3.4%
Asian2.2%
Other3.3%
Education (25+)
32.9%
24.3%
36.9%
No HS diploma5.8%
HS diploma32.9%
Some college24.3%
Bachelor's+36.9%
Housing tenure
65.2%
34.8%
Owner65.2%
Renter34.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Wooster, OH has changed in 5 years

Income
$55,598 → $66,898
up 20.3%
Population
26,753 → 26,971
up 0.8%
Renter share
39.8% → 34.8%
-5.0 pts
Bachelor's+
30.1% → 36.9%
+6.8 pts
Median age
38.5 → 40.1
+1.6 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $55,598 to $66,898 across the same window, up 20.3% versus 2021. Renters now make up 34.8% of households, compared with 39.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 36.9% of adults here, versus 30.1% in 2021.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Wooster on your salary?

At $1,475/mo, how Wooster rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Wooster rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Wooster

About renting in Wooster, OH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Wooster is $1,475/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $670/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $970/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $750/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,190/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($66,898/yr), Wooster ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Wooster?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,475/mo in Wooster. The local median household income is $66,898/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Wooster?

Rent in Wooster has risen 0.8% over the past year.

How does Wooster rent compare to other cities in Ohio?

Wooster is in the middle among Ohio cities for rent, ranking #57 of 125 tracked cities at $1,475/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Wooster changed +0.8%, against a typical +4.3% across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wooster?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Wooster ($1,475/mo) include Ashland ($960/mo), Orrville ($1,053/mo), and Barberton ($1,214/mo).
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,475/mo, rent takes ~26% of Wooster's median household income ($66,898/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Wooster 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.75–3.5%
Run the Wooster affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Wooster
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Wooster, OH

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