Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Ohio
The typical rent in Ohio is $1,034 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,273 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $24.48 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Ohio
- Typical rent
- $1,034
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 27% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,273
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,003 to $1,607 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $24.48
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $50,920 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 46%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Ohio, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
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Studio
Wage: $13.42–$24.19 an hour
Lowest: $698 Highest: $1,258
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.75–$25.88 an hour
Lowest: $767 Highest: $1,346
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.29–$30.90 an hour
Lowest: $1,003 Highest: $1,607
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $22.98–$36.83 an hour
Lowest: $1,195 Highest: $1,915
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.35–$41.77 an hour
Lowest: $1,318 Highest: $2,172
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Ohio, 46% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
46%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
1,595,287 renter households in Ohio
- Spend half or more of their income 23%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 23%
- Spend less than 30% 54%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Ohio. Highest fair market rent first.
| Union County | $1,607 | $1,247 | $30.90 | 35% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | $1,602 | $1,492 | $30.81 | 42% |
| Franklin County | $1,602 | $1,302 | $30.81 | 46% |
| Fairfield County | $1,602 | $1,172 | $30.81 | 48% |
| Licking County | $1,602 | $1,078 | $30.81 | 41% |
| Pickaway County | $1,602 | $1,020 | $30.81 | 43% |
| Madison County | $1,602 | $943 | $30.81 | 42% |
| Morrow County | $1,602 | $937 | $30.81 | 42% |
| Warren County | $1,442 | $1,361 | $27.73 | 41% |
| Butler County | $1,442 | $1,135 | $27.73 | 48% |
| Clermont County | $1,442 | $1,107 | $27.73 | 40% |
| Hamilton County | $1,442 | $1,075 | $27.73 | 49% |
| Medina County | $1,274 | $1,143 | $24.50 | 45% |
| Lake County | $1,274 | $1,113 | $24.50 | 45% |
| Geauga County | $1,274 | $1,083 | $24.50 | 43% |
| Cuyahoga County | $1,274 | $1,060 | $24.50 | 48% |
| Lorain County | $1,274 | $966 | $24.50 | 47% |
| Greene County | $1,248 | $1,135 | $24.00 | 41% |
| Montgomery County | $1,248 | $1,026 | $24.00 | 47% |
| Miami County | $1,248 | $966 | $24.00 | 43% |
| Portage County | $1,231 | $1,064 | $23.67 | 55% |
| Summit County | $1,231 | $1,026 | $23.67 | 48% |
| Erie County | $1,221 | $933 | $23.48 | 43% |
| Ottawa County | $1,209 | $930 | $23.25 | 44% |
| Hancock County | $1,189 | $979 | $22.87 | 37% |
| Allen County | $1,179 | $922 | $22.67 | 41% |
| Clark County | $1,160 | $872 | $22.31 | 44% |
| Wood County | $1,145 | $972 | $22.02 | 44% |
| Lucas County | $1,145 | $934 | $22.02 | 45% |
| Fulton County | $1,145 | $863 | $22.02 | 31% |
| Knox County | $1,136 | $950 | $21.85 | 46% |
| Athens County | $1,129 | $939 | $21.71 | 58% |
| Tuscarawas County | $1,106 | $908 | $21.27 | 45% |
| Putnam County | $1,095 | $855 | $21.06 | 34% |
| Ross County | $1,093 | $906 | $21.02 | 48% |
| Marion County | $1,083 | $864 | $20.83 | 48% |
| Wayne County | $1,082 | $881 | $20.81 | 34% |
| Pike County | $1,079 | $907 | $20.75 | 48% |
| Shelby County | $1,076 | $922 | $20.69 | 36% |
| Clinton County | $1,071 | $910 | $20.60 | 39% |
| Logan County | $1,064 | $845 | $20.46 | 36% |
| Seneca County | $1,057 | $856 | $20.33 | 41% |
| Stark County | $1,049 | $909 | $20.17 | 42% |
| Carroll County | $1,049 | $863 | $20.17 | 37% |
| Champaign County | $1,047 | $905 | $20.13 | 38% |
| Richland County | $1,035 | $824 | $19.90 | 42% |
| Brown County | $1,030 | $817 | $19.81 | 49% |
| Hocking County | $1,018 | $808 | $19.58 | 52% |
| Defiance County | $1,017 | $846 | $19.56 | 31% |
| Fayette County | $1,017 | $822 | $19.56 | 36% |
| Auglaize County | $1,016 | $868 | $19.54 | 32% |
| Henry County | $1,011 | $849 | $19.44 | 31% |
| Belmont County | $1,009 | $793 | $19.40 | 47% |
| Mercer County | $1,008 | $804 | $19.38 | 37% |
| Jefferson County | $1,007 | $835 | $19.37 | 44% |
| Lawrence County | $1,006 | $848 | $19.35 | 44% |
| Perry County | $1,006 | $777 | $19.35 | 44% |
| Wyandot County | $1,005 | $827 | $19.33 | 32% |
| Ashland County | $1,003 | $888 | $19.29 | 43% |
| Guernsey County | $1,003 | $864 | $19.29 | 47% |
| Washington County | $1,003 | $852 | $19.29 | 50% |
| Huron County | $1,003 | $848 | $19.29 | 43% |
| Muskingum County | $1,003 | $833 | $19.29 | 46% |
| Ashtabula County | $1,003 | $828 | $19.29 | 48% |
| Holmes County | $1,003 | $816 | $19.29 | 35% |
| Gallia County | $1,003 | $813 | $19.29 | 41% |
| Paulding County | $1,003 | $812 | $19.29 | 40% |
| Trumbull County | $1,003 | $797 | $19.29 | 47% |
| Crawford County | $1,003 | $794 | $19.29 | 46% |
| Preble County | $1,003 | $794 | $19.29 | 37% |
| Hardin County | $1,003 | $793 | $19.29 | 35% |
| Mahoning County | $1,003 | $791 | $19.29 | 50% |
| Williams County | $1,003 | $791 | $19.29 | 44% |
| Harrison County | $1,003 | $785 | $19.29 | 38% |
| Sandusky County | $1,003 | $783 | $19.29 | 43% |
| Van Wert County | $1,003 | $782 | $19.29 | 37% |
| Highland County | $1,003 | $780 | $19.29 | 40% |
| Darke County | $1,003 | $779 | $19.29 | 41% |
| Jackson County | $1,003 | $769 | $19.29 | 46% |
| Coshocton County | $1,003 | $765 | $19.29 | 48% |
| Columbiana County | $1,003 | $756 | $19.29 | 46% |
| Morgan County | $1,003 | $742 | $19.29 | 48% |
| Scioto County | $1,003 | $742 | $19.29 | 56% |
| Adams County | $1,003 | $732 | $19.29 | 58% |
| Vinton County | $1,003 | $728 | $19.29 | 39% |
| Meigs County | $1,003 | $722 | $19.29 | 48% |
| Noble County | $1,003 | $707 | $19.29 | — |
| Monroe County | $1,003 | $672 | $19.29 | 43% |
- Union $1,607$30.90
- Delaware $1,602$30.81
- Franklin $1,602$30.81
- Fairfield $1,602$30.81
- Licking $1,602$30.81
- Pickaway $1,602$30.81
- Madison $1,602$30.81
- Morrow $1,602$30.81
- Warren $1,442$27.73
- Butler $1,442$27.73
- Clermont $1,442$27.73
- Hamilton $1,442$27.73
- Medina $1,274$24.50
- Lake $1,274$24.50
- Geauga $1,274$24.50
- Cuyahoga $1,274$24.50
- Lorain $1,274$24.50
- Greene $1,248$24.00
- Montgomery $1,248$24.00
- Miami $1,248$24.00
- Portage $1,231$23.67
- Summit $1,231$23.67
- Erie $1,221$23.48
- Ottawa $1,209$23.25
- Hancock $1,189$22.87
- Allen $1,179$22.67
- Clark $1,160$22.31
- Wood $1,145$22.02
- Lucas $1,145$22.02
- Fulton $1,145$22.02
- Knox $1,136$21.85
- Athens $1,129$21.71
- Tuscarawas $1,106$21.27
- Putnam $1,095$21.06
- Ross $1,093$21.02
- Marion $1,083$20.83
- Wayne $1,082$20.81
- Pike $1,079$20.75
- Shelby $1,076$20.69
- Clinton $1,071$20.60
- Logan $1,064$20.46
- Seneca $1,057$20.33
- Stark $1,049$20.17
- Carroll $1,049$20.17
- Champaign $1,047$20.13
- Richland $1,035$19.90
- Brown $1,030$19.81
- Hocking $1,018$19.58
- Defiance $1,017$19.56
- Fayette $1,017$19.56
- Auglaize $1,016$19.54
- Henry $1,011$19.44
- Belmont $1,009$19.40
- Mercer $1,008$19.38
- Jefferson $1,007$19.37
- Lawrence $1,006$19.35
- Perry $1,006$19.35
- Wyandot $1,005$19.33
- Ashland $1,003$19.29
- Guernsey $1,003$19.29
- Washington $1,003$19.29
- Huron $1,003$19.29
- Muskingum $1,003$19.29
- Ashtabula $1,003$19.29
- Holmes $1,003$19.29
- Gallia $1,003$19.29
- Paulding $1,003$19.29
- Trumbull $1,003$19.29
- Crawford $1,003$19.29
- Preble $1,003$19.29
- Hardin $1,003$19.29
- Mahoning $1,003$19.29
- Williams $1,003$19.29
- Harrison $1,003$19.29
- Sandusky $1,003$19.29
- Van Wert $1,003$19.29
- Highland $1,003$19.29
- Darke $1,003$19.29
- Jackson $1,003$19.29
- Coshocton $1,003$19.29
- Columbiana $1,003$19.29
- Morgan $1,003$19.29
- Scioto $1,003$19.29
- Adams $1,003$19.29
- Vinton $1,003$19.29
- Meigs $1,003$19.29
- Noble $1,003$19.29
- Monroe $1,003$19.29
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Ohio
What Ohio law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- When must they return my deposit?
- 30 days
- Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16(B)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 3 days
- Ohio Rev. Code §1923.04(A)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- Ohio Rev. Code §5321.17(B)
- Only a court order can remove youOhio Rev. Code §5321.15(A)
- Protection from retaliationOhio Rev. Code §5321.02(A)
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Ohio
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
54 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 14 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Ohio is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Union County ($1,607, about $30.90 an hour) and the cheapest Ashland County ($1,003, about $19.29 an hour).
How many households in Ohio spend too much on rent?
46% of renter households in Ohio spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 23% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Ohio, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,003 to $1,607 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Ohio?
75 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Ohio; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.