Columbus, Ohio Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the Columbus, Ohio rental market.

Highlights

An apartment for rent in Columbus, Ohio typically goes for $1,300 per month, while a single-family home for rent in Columbus, Ohio has a monthly cost of around $1,438. Renter-occupied units make up 55% of the local housing market, while the rental vacancy rate in Columbus, Ohio is at 4.1.

Columbus, Ohio

Average Apartment Rent

$1,300

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

4.1%

Average Single-Family Rent

$1,438

As of November 2024

Compared to a year ago, Columbus, Ohio apartments have recorded a 4.1% rent increase.

Columbus, Ohio Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Nov 2021 Mar 2022 Jul 2022 Nov 2022 Mar 2023 Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024
Columbus $1,073 $1,096 $1,164 $1,184 $1,183 $1,225 $1,230 $1,248 $1,283 $1,300
National $1,596 $1,635 $1,708 $1,726 $1,714 $1,739 $1,733 $1,727 $1,752 $1,748
Columbus
National
Nov 2021
$1,073
$1,596
Mar 2022
$1,096
$1,635
Jul 2022
$1,164
$1,708
Nov 2022
$1,184
$1,726
Mar 2023
$1,183
$1,714
Jul 2023
$1,225
$1,739
Nov 2023
$1,230
$1,733
Mar 2024
$1,248
$1,727
Jul 2024
$1,283
$1,752
Nov 2024
$1,300
$1,748

Columbus, Ohio Average Apartment Rent

Columbus, Ohio Apartment rent ranges

Under $500
$501 - $700
$701 - $1000
$1,001 - $1,500
$1,501 - $2,000
Over $2,000

At 51.3%, apartments priced $1,000 - $1,500 represent the bulk of Columbus, Ohio rentals, while condos priced Under $500 hold the lowest share of the market – 0.08%.

Columbus, Ohio Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 211,204
Owner occupied housing units 170,936

Renters take up 55% of Columbus, Ohio real estate, occupying a total of 211,204 units, while homeowners live in 170,936 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

4.1

Renter median household income**

$48,564

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

2.19

Rental vacancy rate**

4.1%

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 7,584
1 bed 53,746
2 beds 101,739
3 beds 38,824
4 beds 7,997
5 or more beds 1,314

There are 101,739 rentals in Columbus, Ohio with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 48%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (1%), amounting to 1,314 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in Columbus, Ohio homes for rent is 4.1.

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 24,647
25 - 34 years 70,904
35 - 44 years 41,159
45 - 54 years 28,968
55 - 59 years 13,061
60 - 64 years 11,699
65 - 74 years 13,109
75 - 84 years 5,094
85 years and over 2,563

Most condos for rent in Columbus, Ohio are occupied by residents in the 25 - 34 years age group (34%), followed by those in the 35 - 44 years age group (19%). At the same time, people in the 85 years and over age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 1%.

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 90,454
Non-Family Households 120,750

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 55,929
No related children of the householder under 18 155,275

A total of 90,454 apartments for rent in Columbus, Ohio, or 43% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 26% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 55,929 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in Columbus, Ohio is 2.19.

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 19,685
High school graduate (including equivalency) 50,139
Some college or associate's degree 66,084
Bachelor's degree or higher 75,296

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 36% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 9% of the homes for rent in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2010 - 2019 26,288
Built 2000 - 2009 22,758
Built 1990 - 1999 29,800
Built 1980 - 1989 29,717
Built 1970 - 1979 33,286
Built 1960 - 1969 22,122
Built 1950 - 1959 18,326
Built 1940 - 1949 7,185
Built 1939 or earlier 20,809

The highest share of Columbus, Ohio apartment rentals, namely 16% or 33,286 units, were Built 1970 - 1979, followed by those Built 1990 - 1999 (14%, 29,800 units), and the ones Built 1980 - 1989 (14%, 29,717 units).

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 24,459
Moved in 2018 to 2020 82,485
Moved in 2010 to 2017 86,021
Moved in 2000 to 2009 14,475
Moved in 1990 to 1999 2,447
Moved in 1989 or earlier 1,317

Median year renter moved into unit 2018

Most Columbus, Ohio renters (41%) moved in 2010 to 2017, while only 1% of them moved in 1990 to 1999. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their Columbus, Ohio condos for rent is 2018.

Columbus, Ohio Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 27,136
1 vehicle available 108,497
2 vehicles available 61,068
3 vehicles available 10,518
4 vehicles available 2,619
5 or more vehicles available 1,366

When it comes to transportation options, 51% of Columbus, Ohio renters have 1 vehicle available per household, 29% of them have 2 vehicles available, and 13% have No vehicle available.

Columbus, Ohio Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 175,783
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 21,079
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 9,034
Walked 8,139
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 4,685
Worked at home 29,005

Columbus, Ohio Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 327,683
Moved within same county 86,243
Moved from different county within same state 19,964
Moved from different state 16,942
Moved from abroad 5,119

Columbus, Ohio Average apartment rent by zip codes


The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Columbus, Ohio apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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