The Ohio rental market
Ohio tracks median rent across 125 cities, ranging from Steubenville at $719/mo to Maineville at $2,504/mo. The state average of $1,500/mo runs about 22% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Ohio cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +4.2% over the past year. 20 of 138 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 118 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 3 of 125 Ohio cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
43 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Avon ($2,334/mo) costs 3.2 times as much as Steubenville ($719/mo).
Across 31 Ohio cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in February and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 18 of 18 Ohio cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ohio cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Ohio rent questions
What is the average rent in Ohio?
The average median rent across 125 tracked cities in Ohio is $1,500/mo, about 22% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Ohio city has the highest rent?
Maineville has the highest median rent in Ohio at $2,504/mo.
Which Ohio city has the most affordable rent?
Steubenville is the most affordable tracked city in Ohio, with a median rent of $719/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Ohio?
Across Ohio cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +4.2% over the past year.
How does Ohio rent compare to the rest of the country?
20 of 138 tracked Ohio cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 118 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Ohio?
By population, the largest rental markets in Ohio are Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.