1st Advantage MortgageA DSCR loan in Kent turns on rent versus payment. Citywide medians from the Census are $991 a month for rent, $219,900 for home value and $3,463 a year for real estate taxes.
Kent rental market at a glance
Citywide, Kent renters pay a median $991 in gross rent (rent plus utilities), close to the Ohio median of $1,034, and owner-occupied homes have a median value of $219,900, close to the Ohio median of $214,800. Put the two medians together and Kent shows a gross yield of 5.4%, a thin gross ratio, which tells you purchase prices are high relative to rent. Because the rent number covers apartments as well as houses, expect single-family rentals to land above or below it.
| Indicator | Ohio | Kent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.37 | 2.14 | |
| Share of homes detached | 68.8% | 38.7% | -44% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 10.8% | 6.7% | -38% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 31.5% | 47.1% | +50% |
| Workers on their own account | 8.1% | 4.7% | -42% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 45.9% | 65.6% | +43% |
| Units sitting vacant | 8.1% | 19.7% | +143% |
| Typical construction year | 1970 | 1972 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 5.8% | 5.4% | -6% |
| Households that rent | 32.8% | 59.2% | +81% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $2,822 | $3,463 | +23% |
| Household income, median | $71,389 | $42,964 | -40% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $214,800 | $219,900 | +2% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,034 | $991 | -4% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 11,810,293 | 27,116 |
59.2% of households in Kent rent, well above the Ohio median of 33%. A large renter base supports steady leasing but also means plenty of competing listings. The median household brings in $42,964 (well below the Ohio median of $71,389), with 66% of renters paying 30 percent or more of income toward rent.
The kind of housing in Kent
Buildings with two or more units make up about 54% of Kent's housing, including 10% in two to four unit buildings and 22% in buildings of five to 19 units. Homes here date to 1972 at the median, which is old enough to need system replacement but modern enough to avoid the worst surprises.
Kent reports 20% of units vacant and a rental vacancy rate of 6.1%, a measure of how quickly a listed unit might lease. Second homes and seasonal use account for 10% of housing units here, a strong signal that short-term rental competition and tourism taxes matter.
Reading Kent as an investor
A 5.4% gross ratio leaves little margin in Kent. Every dollar of insurance, tax and association dues matters, and some deals work only with lower leverage. Median build year 1972 puts the typical Kent rental in its second set of major systems. Renter-heavy markets like Kent favor investors with a clear tenant profile, whether workers, students or families.
Taxes, insurance and hazards in Kent
Real estate taxes are a line the rent has to cover. The median owner in Kent pays $3,463 a year (about 23% above the Ohio median of $2,822), which is about 1.57% of the median home value. At the median rent that tax bill takes roughly 29% of a year's rent before insurance, dues or interest.
County-level hazard data from FEMA (National Risk Index 1.20) shows Portage County with relatively low overall risk and hail (relatively moderate), ice storms (relatively moderate) and winter weather (relatively moderate) at the top of the list.
| Hazard in Portage County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Strong wind exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter weather exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice storms exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail exposure | Relatively Moderate |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Low |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Low |
| Composite risk | Relatively Low |
A Kent landlord policy is priced on roof, age, wiring and location, and the annual premium divided by twelve lands in the payment the lender tests.
A worked DSCR test for Kent
Take the median rent ($991), subtract median taxes spread over twelve months ($289), and you have $702 of room at a 1.00 ratio. A lender asking for 1.25 cuts that to $504. Real quotes for the address decide the rest.
Rental rules for Kent, OH
We have not confirmed a city-specific rental registration or nightly-stay permit program for Kent, so check with the city and with Portage County before you buy, and look at any HOA or condominium rules that can be stricter than the city's. On lodging taxes, a Kent host should read this first. Ohio's lodging tax covers transient guests who rent for fewer than 30 consecutive days, including Airbnb and VRBO style rentals, and counties may levy an additional lodging tax that operators register for and file under that county's rules.
A landlord collecting a deposit in Kent works under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16, which sets the limit as follows: No statutory cap. Plan for a 30 day return window on any Kent deposit once the tenant moves out. Expect to give 30 days of notice to end a month-to-month arrangement at a Kent rental.
Neighbors of Kent by the numbers
Looking across the table, values run from $97,800 (Canton) up to $170,100 (Parma), and Kent lands at $219,900.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 58% | $1,759 | $102,000 | 366,097 | $945 |
| Parma | 28% | $3,341 | $170,100 | 79,870 | $1,087 |
| Canton | 51% | $1,227 | $97,800 | 69,755 | $850 |
| Akron | 49% | $1,950 | $122,000 | 189,247 | $955 |
| Kent | 59% | $3,463 | $219,900 | 27,116 | $991 |
The renter base in Kent
4.7% of employed residents work for themselves, which matters here because DSCR lending does not ask for tax returns or pay stubs. Other workforce markers: government workers are about 15% of employment, 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Colleges tied to Kent include Kent State University, Kent State University Airport and Liquid Crystal Institute, and campus-adjacent streets often rent to students and staff on a school-year rhythm. For getting around, Kent has air service through Kent State University Airport, which matters to commuters and to out-of-town owners planning a visit.
Next steps for a Kent purchase
Gather the lease or rent estimate, the tax estimate and an insurance quote for the Kent address, check them in the calculator, and begin your application or get a quote first.
More Ohio markets
- All Ohio DSCR loans
- DSCR loans in Akron, OH
- DSCR loans in Canton, OH
- DSCR loans in Parma, OH
- DSCR loans in Cleveland, OH
- Every market we cover
Sources and data notes
- Ohio security deposit statute (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16)
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.09 (Ohio)
- For nightly stays in Kent: Ohio Administrative Code 5703-9-64
- 2020 to 2024 ACS data used for Kent
- Federal hazard index, OH
- Kent overview (Wikipedia)
Numbers for Kent come from the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 ACS and are survey estimates. Deposit and notice summaries come from RedFlagLease (CC BY 4.0) and the linked Ohio sections. Facts were checked in October 2026, and rules change.
Pre-offer checklist
For a Kent rental, request the current lease, the last tax bill and the insurance declarations page early, and confirm which utilities the tenant pays, because each one changes the monthly figure a lender compares with the rent.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
What rent do DSCR lenders use for a Kent rental?
It comes from a lease or from the market rent in the appraisal, whichever the program uses. Against that, the Kent median is $991.
Do taxes and insurance count in the Kent DSCR ratio?
They count in full. A 1.25 ratio on $991 of rent permits a payment near $793, and median Kent taxes take about $289 of it each month.
How much real estate tax do Kent homeowners pay a year?
The median bill is $3,463, an effective rate near 1.57%. Because Portage County may reassess at sale, use an estimate on the new price when you run the ratio.
Can I use Airbnb income to qualify in Kent?
Where lender guidelines allow it, yes, with platform history or a market projection. First confirm that Kent and any HOA permit stays under 30 days, and that you can register for Ohio lodging tax.
What are the security deposit rules for a Ohio landlord?
Landlords in Kent follow Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16. Limit: No statutory cap. Return deadline: 30 days from move-out.
Is flood or storm risk a concern for a Kent rental?
Overall risk is rated relatively low for the county. Because the rating covers a whole county, look up the specific property on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
How do LLC closings work for Kent rentals?
Many Kent investors do, though no rule forces it. The loan is secured by the property either way, and the lender will check who controls the company.