Can A Software Developer Afford Rent in Lakewood, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.6% of gross income.

Lakewood rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Lakewood median rent
$1,466/mo
Software Developer salary (Ohio)
$129,823/yr
Rent as % of income
13.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,819, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,246/mo in rent. Lakewood's median rent of $1,466 leaves roughly $1,780/mo of headroom under that threshold. A software developer works roughly 23.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a software developer salary

Software developer pay is among the highest of any large occupation, which makes rent affordability comfortable in nearly every US city. The interesting question for developers is not whether they can afford rent, but how much surplus is left after rent in different markets. At the national-average developer salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — well above the median rent in even the most expensive US metros. The per-city pages quantify how much paycheck remains after typical local rent at the local developer-pay estimate.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Ohio cities have lower median rent than Lakewood, which improves the affordability math on a software developer salary:

Gahanna, OH
$1,465/mo (13.5% of income)
Maple Heights, OH
$1,465/mo (13.5% of income)
Lewis Center, OH
$1,465/mo (13.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakewood

View full rent data for Lakewood, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a software developer afford rent in Lakewood, OH?

Median rent in Lakewood is $1,466 a month. A typical software developer in Ohio earns about $129,823 a year, which makes that rent 13.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a software developer afford in Lakewood?

Using the 30% rule, a software developer salary in Ohio (~$129,823/yr) supports up to $3,246 a month in rent. Lakewood's current median rent is $1,466/mo, which leaves a $1,780/mo buffer.

How many hours does a software developer work to cover rent in Lakewood?

At an hourly equivalent of about $62 an hour, a software developer in Ohio works roughly 23.5 hours a month to cover Lakewood's median rent of $1,466.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakewood for a software developer?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Gahanna ($1,465/mo), Maple Heights ($1,465/mo), Lewis Center ($1,465/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a software developer salary.

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