Anyone who’s lived in an Ohio town with a state university will tell you that they’re notorious for high rent rates, especially compared to towns without a university. And with more students enrolling in higher education and limited student rental inventory, prices are only going up, which is a bummer for college students on a budget. Choosing the right university now includes choosing a place with luxury yet affordable rental housing. So - have you ever wondered how Athens rental housing stacks up against other university towns across the state? Hint: We’re a pretty great choice for college students of any kind looking for great apartments that don’t require another giant loan to pay for. Let’s look at how renting an apartment in Athens compares to other public university towns in Ohio:
Akron
Major School(s): University of Akron, Kent State University
- Studio Apartments: $775
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $840
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1050
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1210
49% of rentable apartments in Akron fall at or below $700/month. Rental rates for university students living off-campus raised less than 1% in the last couple years.
Athens
Major School(s): Ohio University
- Studio Apartments: $650
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $870
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1040
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1080
50% of rentable apartments in Athens fall between $1000-1500/month, likely due to the massive 6 and 8-bedroom uptown rental homes you’ll find full of OU students! Rental rates in town have risen about 2.5% in the last couple of years.
Bowling Green
Major School(s): Bowling Green State University
- Studio Apartments: $523
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $639
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $829
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $984
50% of the apartments in Bowling Green fall at or below $700/month. Monthly rent for off-campus students at BGSU has risen nearly 4% in the last couple years.
Cleveland
Major School(s): Cleveland State University
- Studio Apartments: $1129
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $1234
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1509
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $2067
30% of the rental inventory in Cleveland falls between $1000-1500/month, and the market has risen about 2% in the last couple years.
Cincinnati
Major School(s): University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University
- Studio Apartments: $1012
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $1044
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1299
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1577
About 32% of the apartments available to college students in Cincinnati fall between $700-1000/month, which represents an increase of about 2.2% over the last couple of years.
Columbus
Major School(s): Ohio State University
- Studio Apartments: $953
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $1106
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1282
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1431
Another historic hub full of big houses converted into off-campus student housing, 37% of rentals in Columbus fall between $1000-1500/month, which represents an increase of just over 1% in the last couple years.
Dayton
Major School(s): University of Dayton, Central State University, Wright State University
- Studio Apartments: $809
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $907
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1189
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1428
34% of apartments in Dayton fall at or below $700/month. The rental prices have only increased about 1% in the last couple of years.
Oxford
Major School(s): Miami University
- Studio Apartments: $725
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $600
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $1275
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1830
43% of apartments in Oxford cost $700/month or less, and rent rates for college students have remained stable over the last couple years.
Portsmouth
Major School(s): Shawnee State University
- Studio Apartments: $408
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $458
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $561
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $627
Coming in as our most affordable Ohio town for off-campus living, virtually all the rental market in Portsmouth is under $700/month, and has risen only 1% in the last couple years. Perks of an Ohio River town! Kind of?
Toledo
Major School(s): University of Toledo
- Studio Apartments: $624
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $764
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $919
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1100
41% of apartments in Toledo rent for $700-1000/month, representing an increase of about 1.2% over the last couple years.
Youngstown
Major School(s): Youngstown State University
- Studio Apartments: $581
- 1-Bedroom Apartments: $683
- 2-Bedroom Apartments: $834
- 3-Bedroom Apartments: $1058
50% of apartments available for local university students in Youngstown fall at $700/month or less. The rental rates at YSU have risen 3.6% in the last couple years.
Advantages of Leasing an Apartment in Athens
Athens doesn’t do too poorly here when it comes to how much it costs to rent an apartment off campus. But even so, Athens apartments aren’t just about rental rates; there are so many things that make Athens, Ohio a special place to live. One of the most liberal towns in the state, the culture here is one of the most diverse you’ll find, especially considering how small the town is. You’ve got Hocking Hills State Park just up the road, which has views and hikes you just can’t beat. Then there’s Stroud’s Run State Park, where you can rent boats, swim at the beach, hike, paddleboard – any outdoor activity, really. We could go on and on; obviously we love it here. But when you consider all the awesome things about life in and around Athens, and the fact that there’s such a wide array of apartments to rent where anyone on any budget can find something that fits them, it makes us feel lucky to be in this little corner of Ohio.