Cost to Own
United States › Ohio › Portage County › Kent Population 27,190 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $773 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Portage County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Kent, Ohio

A $211,000 home here costs

$1,923

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $82,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 15%Insurance 4%Utilities 12%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,150. The real number is $773 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Portage County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Kent median: $210,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
OH average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $168,800 borrowed $1,150
Property tax1.631% effective rate for Kent itself $287
Homeowners insuranceOhio averages $920/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $78
Electricity19.38ยข/kWh, Ohio residential average, EIA $164
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $176
Total monthly $1,923

Kent against Portage County and Ohio

MeasureKentPortage County
Median home value$210,700$210,500
Median property tax$3,436$2,728
Effective tax rate1.631%1.296%
Median gross rent$983$1,036
Population27,190161,421

The weather behind that power bill

Kent sits in Portage County, which averages a high of 84.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.0°F in its coldest, with 43.07" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 645 cooling and 6,398 heating degree days, which is what sets the $164 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Portage County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Portage County

Full Portage County cost breakdown · Every county in Ohio

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Kent averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Kent every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Kent I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Kent?

A $211,000 home in Kent, Ohio costs approximately $1,923 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,150 principal and interest, $287 property tax, $78 homeowners insurance, $232 utilities and $176 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Kent?

Kent has an effective property tax rate of 1.631%, based on a median home value of $210,700 and median real estate taxes of $3,436. That is higher than the Portage County average of 1.296%.

What is the average home price in Kent?

The median owner-occupied home value in Kent, Ohio is $210,700, against $210,500 across Portage County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kent?

Median gross rent in Kent is $983 a month, against $1,923 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Kent?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kent, Ohio at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $82,500 a year. That covers the full $1,923 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kent, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Ohio.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology