City · Ohio

Kent, Ohio

Kent, city, in Portage County, Ohio. Kent had 27,737 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 28,215 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 27,116 (±59). GEOID 3939872.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

27,737

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 28,215 · ACS 2020-2024: 27,116 ±59

Median household income

$42,964

±$4,620 (90% margin)
Ohio: $71,389

Median home value

$219,900

±$18,932 (90% margin)
Ohio: $214,800

Median gross rent

$991

±$47 (90% margin)
Ohio: $1,034

Where is Kent and what county is it in?

Kent is a city in Portage County, Ohio. It covers 9.5 square miles of land, 2,973 residents per square mile in 2020.

Kent is in the Akron, OH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Kent (marked with a dot) in Portage County, Ohio. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Kent, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 27,737 people lived in Kent on July 1, 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, while Ohio grew 0.9%. The 2020 Census counted 28,215 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 27,116 (±59).

  • July 2020→2021 −3,396 (24,766)
  • 2021→2022 +2,355 (27,121)
  • 2022→2023 +468 (27,589)
  • 2023→2024 +9 (27,598)
  • 2024→2025 +139 (27,737)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure KentPortage CountyOhio Change since 2015-2019
Total population 27,116 ±59 161,956 11,810,293 −2,695
Households 10,069 ±543 65,249 4,863,191 −818
Average household size 2.14 ±0.12 2.37 2.37 no clear change
Housing units 12,537 ±501 71,325 5,292,391 −1,007

Kent's population since 2000

From 27,906 in 2000 to 27,737 in 2025: down 0.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Kent as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 27,906
  • 2005 (estimate) 28,899
  • 2010 Census 28,904
  • 2015 (estimate) 29,792
  • 2020 Census 28,215
  • 2025 (estimate) 27,737

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Kent?

The median resident of Kent is 23.8 years old; 12.5% are under 18 and 11.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.5%. 6.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure KentPortage CountyOhio Change since 2015-2019
Median age 23.8 ±0.8 39.6 39.7 no clear change
Under 18 years 12.5% ±1.9 pts 18.2% 22.0% –
65 years and over 11.4% ±1.3 pts 18.3% 18.3% –
Male 44.6% ±2.2 pts 49.3% 49.3% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% ±0.8 pts 2.3% 4.8% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 81.0% ±2.7 pts 86.0% 75.8% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 8.5% ±2.1 pts 5.0% 12.0% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 3.6% ±1.5 pts 2.2% 2.5% no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.1 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.3% ±1.5 pts 4.0% 4.3% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.4% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 6.7% ±2.2 pts 3.7% 5.2% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 7.8% ±2.0 pts 4.5% 8.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 3.8% ±1.2 pts 6.1% 6.6% –
With a disability 12.4% ±2.1 pts 13.5% 14.4% –
No health insurance coverage 6.2% ±1.7 pts 5.0% 6.4% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 94.8% ±2.2 pts 92.9% 91.8% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 47.1% ±4.1 pts 32.5% 31.5% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 21.3% ±3.3 pts 12.7% 12.2% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 70.6% ±3.1 pts 87.0% 88.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 4.7% ±1.1 pts 1.6% 1.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Kent earn?

Half of Kent's 10,069 households earn less than $42,964 a year (±$4,620), against $75,766 in Portage County and $71,389 in Ohio. In 2015-2019 it was $40,604 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure KentPortage CountyOhio Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $42,964 ±$4,620 $75,766 $71,389 no clear change
Mean household income $69,579 ±$5,558 $97,106 $96,990 –
Per capita income $28,098 ±$1,972 $40,483 $40,552 no clear change
People below the poverty line 27.1% ±3.8 pts 11.7% 13.3% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 21.5% ±7.9 pts 12.6% 17.8% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 13.1% ±2.7 pts 10.2% 12.5% –
Households with a computer 96.1% ±2.1 pts 95.7% 94.4% –
Households with a broadband subscription 85.4% ±3.5 pts 89.8% 90.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Kent?

Owners occupy 40.8% of Kent's occupied homes and renters 59.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $219,900 by its owner (±$18,932). The median renter pays $991 a month including utilities, and 55.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure KentPortage CountyOhio Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $219,900 ±$18,932 $227,000 $214,800 +$39,357
Median gross rent $991 ±$47 $1,064 $1,034 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 55.0% ±6.5 pts 46.7% 37.3% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,416 ±$91 $1,578 $1,517 –
Owner-occupied homes 40.8% ±4.3 pts 70.1% 67.2% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 59.2% ±4.3 pts 29.9% 32.8% –
Housing units 12,537 ±501 71,325 5,292,391 −1,007
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±0.9 pts 0.5% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 5.9% ±3.0 pts 4.0% 4.4% –
Single-family detached homes 38.7% ±3.4 pts 64.8% 68.8% –
Mobile homes 0.1% ±0.2 pts 6.1% 3.4% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±0.3 pts 0.9% 1.1% –
Built 2010 to 2019 10.3% ±2.1 pts 7.6% 5.6% –
Built 1939 or earlier 16.0% ±3.1 pts 12.6% 19.0% –
Households with no vehicle 16.1% ±3.6 pts 6.6% 7.5% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Kent building?

Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Kent in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.1 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Ohio.

  • 2019 4 units
  • 2020 6 units
  • 2021 12 units
  • 2022 5 units
  • 2023 4 units
  • 2024 1 units
  • 2025 2 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Kent work and get to work?

64.7% of Kent's workers drive alone and 16.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure KentPortage CountyOhio Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 63.7% ±3.0 pts 64.6% 63.1% –
Unemployment rate 11.2% ±3.0 pts 5.3% 4.8% no clear change
Drove alone to work 64.7% ±4.2 pts 73.8% 75.1% –
Carpooled 7.0% ±2.9 pts 6.8% 7.5% –
Public transportation 0.9% ±0.8 pts 0.7% 1.0% –
Walked 9.7% ±2.1 pts 2.9% 2.0% –
Worked from home 16.0% ±3.3 pts 14.9% 13.0% +6.0 pts
Mean travel time to work 20.8 min ±1.6 24.8 min 23.4 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Kent?

6 census tracts lie mostly in Kent, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $29,576 (Tract 6015.03) to $84,926 (Tract 6013).

Census tracts in Kent, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Kent
Tract 6015.02Portage County7,075 $30,576 not published100%
Tract 6013Portage County6,862 $84,926 $258,60089%
Tract 6014Portage County4,632 $44,273 $162,70099%
Tract 6012Portage County5,178 $41,845 $220,40074%
Tract 6015.03Portage County3,652 $29,576 $249,80077%
Tract 6015.01Portage County1,772 $29,961 $168,900100%
Tract 6017.03Portage County3,661 $63,023 $271,00023%
Tract 6017.04Portage County3,547 $87,700 $301,0009%
Tract 6016Portage County3,484 $81,667 $257,0004%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Kent) · Census block assignment files

How does Kent compare with other places in Ohio?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Kent is the 1,449th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 53rd-most populous of 923 in Ohio.

Kent ranks 1,642nd of 1,699 places in Ohio with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Kent's rank in Ohio (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate53rd923
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)1,226th1,589
Residents per square mile79th1,734
Median household income1,642nd1,699
Per capita income1,490th1,729
Median home value657th1,707
Median gross rent516th1,453
Poverty rate70th1,116
Bachelor's degree or higher164th1,613
Median age1,705th1,727
Owner-occupied share1,717th1,732
Work from home290th990
Travel time to work1,387th1,731

Kent's figures with every place in Ohio (CSV)

Every place in Ohio, sortable · Compare Kent with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Kent?

7 of the 57 figures for Kent on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Kent are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Kent.