Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Kent, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53% of gross income.

Kent rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Kent median rent
$1,538/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Ohio)
$34,846/yr
Rent as % of income
53%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,904, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Kent's median rent of $1,538 exceeds that threshold by $667/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 91.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Ohio cities have lower median rent than Kent, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Woodlawn, OH
$1,537/mo (52.9% of income)
Hilliard, OH
$1,536/mo (52.9% of income)
Hilliard, OH
$1,536/mo (52.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kent

View full rent data for Kent, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Kent, OH?

Median rent in Kent is $1,538 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Ohio earns about $34,846 a year, which makes that rent 53% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Kent?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Ohio (~$34,846/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Kent's current median rent is $1,538/mo, which is $667/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Kent?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in Ohio works roughly 91.8 hours a month to cover Kent's median rent of $1,538.

Where is rent cheaper than Kent for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Woodlawn ($1,537/mo), Hilliard ($1,536/mo), Hilliard ($1,536/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Ohio state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kent, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.