ZIP Code · OH

ZIP 43081

Part of Westerville, OH

Pop. 65,020·Franklin County·54th most expensive ZIP in Ohio

Median rent (all units)

$1,616/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.0%

Month-over-Month

-0.3%

vs US Median

-$316

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 43081 · $1,616

More affordable than 64% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,320

1 BR

$1,420

2 BR

$1,700

3 BR

$2,040

4 BR+

$2,290

Research median

$1,700/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 43081 usually run 1.2% below trend in February and 1.2% above it in July, about $39 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 43081 is 0.2% below its high of $1,620 in August 2026, at $1,616 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Ohio

Rent in ZIP 43081 changed +2.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 Ohio ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 43081 rose 38.3% while median household income rose 11.4% ($82,999 to $92,422). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 43081 is 41.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($92,422) is $2,311 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,290).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 43229, 5 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,233/mo), about $4,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 43081. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,392/yr

At $1,616/mo median

Location

CityWesterville

StateOH

CountyFranklin County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.0% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 43081 (Westerville, OH) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 54% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

65,020

Median income

$92,422

Median age

36.3

Renters

41.3%

Age distribution

22.7%

25.1%

25.6%

15.6%

Under 1822.7%

18–3425.1%

35–5425.6%

55–6410.9%

65+15.6%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

71.3%

15.1%

White71.3%

Black15.1%

Hispanic3.8%

Asian4.7%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

17.1%

26.5%

54%

No HS diploma2.4%

HS diploma17.1%

Some college26.5%

Bachelor's+54%

Housing tenure

58.7%

41.3%

Owner58.7%

Renter41.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 43081 in Westerville, OH has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,204 → $1,616

up 34.2%

Income

$86,488 → $92,422

up 6.9%

Population

64,387 → 65,020

up 1.0%

Renter share

36.8% → 41.3%

+4.5 pts

Bachelor's+

54.8% → 54%

-0.8 pts

The median rent in ZIP 43081 in Westerville, OH stood at $1,204 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,616, reflecting a 34.2% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $92,422 today, compared with $86,488 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.0% since 2021, moving from about 64,387 residents to roughly 65,020. Renters now make up 41.3% of households, compared with 36.8% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 43081

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 43081 covers Westerville, OH. The median rent here is $1,616/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,420/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,700/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($92,422/yr), ZIP 43081 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 43081?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $65,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,616/mo in ZIP 43081. The local median household income is $92,422/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 43081?

Rent in ZIP 43081 has risen 2.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $1,620 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 43081?

Asking rents in ZIP 43081 are usually lowest in February, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $39 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 43081?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 43081 rose 38.3% while median household income rose 11.4%, from $82,999 to $92,422. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 43081 compare to other ZIPs in Ohio?

ZIP 43081 is one of the pricier among Ohio ZIP codes for rent, ranking #54 of 229 at $1,616/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 43081 changed +2.0%, against a typical +3.8% across the 190 Ohio ZIP codes Zillow tracks.