Median Income
$37,505
household / year
Median Home Value
$201,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$898
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100

Is Kent, OH a Good Place to Live?

Kent is a small city of 27,336 in Ohio, with a median household income of $37,505 and a 10.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Kent stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kent is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kent city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.8

Kent's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kent costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric Kent, OH National Avg
Median Home Value $201,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $898 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 42.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $37,505 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kent's violent crime rate is 127.2 per 100,000 residents — 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
127.2 /100k
Property Crime
1271.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kent is served primarily by Kent City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Kent, OH National Avg
School District Kent City
Elementary Schools 4
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 44.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 95.0% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kent sees average highs of 33.9°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 42.2 inches of annual precipitation and 45.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricKent, OH
Average High — January33.9°F
Average High — July84.5°F
Annual Precipitation42.2"
Annual Snowfall45.0"

Demographics

MetricKent, OHNational Avg
Population27,336
Median Age23.838.9
Unemployment Rate10.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time21.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)81.4%59.3%
Black or African American8.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino1.9%18.9%
Asian3.2%6.3%
Under 1813.7%22.2%
65 and over10.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Kent

Kent, OH is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

Kent vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Kent's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kent roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $201,000 and median rent is $898/month.
Kent's violent crime rate is 127.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1271.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kent are operated by Kent City. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 44.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kent, OH has a population of 27,336, a median household income of $37,505, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kent averages 33.9°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.2 inches with about 45.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kent, OH is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 44240, 44243.
The population of Kent, Ohio is 27,336 with a median age of 23.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kent: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $201,000, median household income $37,505, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kent side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.