The Town FilesKent, Ohio
City in Portage County · population 28,215 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,900
- Household income
- $42,964
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 23.8
Kent is a city of 28,215 people in Portage County, Ohio. The median home is worth $219,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 98% of Ohio towns, hipper than 98% of Ohio towns.
How Kent ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kent is worth $219,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $42,964, which is more affordable than 1% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $991 a month. 40.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kent | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $991 | $914 |
| Median household income | $42,964 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 40.8% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.6% | — |
Who lives in Kent
| People | Kent | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.8 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.1% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 90.9% |
Weather in Kent
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.0 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kent since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 12, 1992 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 115 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 8, 2007.
Severe weather in Portage County since 1996
Portage County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1556: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Portage County
Portage County had 56,561 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,670 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Kent itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in Kent
7 public schools with 3,738 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt High School | 9-12 | 1,256 | 9.2 |
| Stanton Middle School | 6-8 | 655 | 7.0 |
| Brimfield Elementary School | K-5 | 520 | 18.6 |
| Davey Elementary School | PK-5 | 445 | 9.1 |
| Walls Elementary School | K-5 | 354 | 10.1 |
| Longcoy Elementary School | K-5 | 279 | 8.7 |
| Holden Elementary School | K-5 | 229 | 10.4 |
Towns near Kent
- Brimfield, OH3.6 mi · 3,365 people · home $200,100
- Munroe Falls, OH3.9 mi · 5,044 people · home $250,800
- Tallmadge, OH4.3 mi · 18,394 people · home $232,500
- Stow, OH4.4 mi · 34,483 people · home $248,000
- Silver Lake, OH4.9 mi · 2,516 people · home $319,400
- Ravenna, OH6.3 mi · 11,323 people · home $139,700
- Streetsboro, OH6.4 mi · 17,260 people · home $220,500
- Mogadore, OH7.0 mi · 3,811 people · home $181,900
Kent questions
Is Kent, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kent scores better for retirees than 14% of Ohio towns and quieter than 3%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.8).
How much does a house cost in Kent?
The median owner-occupied home in Kent is valued at $219,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,964, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $991 a month.
What is the weather like in Kent?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 45.0 inches of snow.
Does Kent get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kent since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 12, 1992. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)