ZIP Code · OH

ZIP 44121

Part of Cleveland Heights, OH

Pop. 32,312·Cuyahoga County·44th most expensive ZIP in Ohio

Median rent (all units)

$1,653/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

-$279

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 44121 · $1,653

More affordable than 62% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,040

1 BR

$1,180

2 BR

$1,420

3 BR

$1,830

4 BR+

$1,950

Research median

$1,420/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 44121 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Ohio

Rent in ZIP 44121 changed +6.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 Ohio ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($76,767) is $1,919 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,830); a 4-bedroom is $1,950.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 44112, 2 miles away, rents for 36% less ($1,050/mo), about $7,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 44121. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,836/yr

At $1,653/mo median

Location

CityCleveland Heights

StateOH

CountyCuyahoga County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.3% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 44121 (Cleveland Heights, OH) is majority owner-occupied, 41.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,312

Median income

$76,767

Median age

37.4

Renters

25.5%

Age distribution

21.8%

23.8%

22.7%

13.2%

18.5%

Under 1821.8%

18–3423.8%

35–5422.7%

55–6413.2%

65+18.5%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

36.3%

55.4%

White36.3%

Black55.4%

Hispanic2.5%

Asian2.7%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

20.4%

33.5%

41.6%

No HS diploma4.5%

HS diploma20.4%

Some college33.5%

Bachelor's+41.6%

Housing tenure

74.5%

25.5%

Owner74.5%

Renter25.5%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 44121 in Cleveland Heights, OH has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,297 → $1,653

up 27.4%

Income

$58,714 → $76,767

up 30.7%

Population

33,011 → 32,312

down 2.1%

Renter share

31.9% → 25.5%

-6.4 pts

Bachelor's+

41% → 41.6%

+0.6 pts

Median age

35.8 → 37.4

+1.6 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 44121 in Cleveland Heights, OH stood at $1,297 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,653, reflecting a 27.4% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $58,714 to $76,767 between 2021 and 2024, a 30.7% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has contracted by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 33,011 residents to roughly 32,312. Renters now make up 25.5% of households, compared with 31.9% five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 44121 in Cleveland Heights, OH reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 44121

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 44121 covers Cleveland Heights, OH. The median rent here is $1,653/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,180/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,420/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($76,767/yr), ZIP 44121 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 44121?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,653/mo in ZIP 44121. The local median household income is $76,767/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 44121?

Rent in ZIP 44121 has risen 6.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

How does ZIP 44121 compare to other ZIPs in Ohio?

ZIP 44121 is one of the pricier among Ohio ZIP codes for rent, ranking #44 of 229 at $1,653/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 44121 changed +6.3%, against a typical +3.8% across the 190 Ohio ZIP codes Zillow tracks.