A research-grade snapshot of the Akron rental market for buy-and-hold operators, BRRR investors, Section 8 specialists, and out-of-state landlords. All numbers sourced from public datasets and clearly attributed.
Akron is the Ohio cash-flow market that offers Cleveland-like gross yields with materially better after-tax math because Summit County property tax at 1.62 percent runs about half a percentage point below Cuyahoga County. Median city-of-Akron single-family pricing around $145,000 against a 3BR FMR of $1,547 produces 8 to 11 percent gross cap rates that net to 7 to 9.5 percent after tax. The economic anchors are Goodyear's headquarters and broader manufacturing employment, the University of Akron, and the broader healthcare cluster. Tenant base credit quality is mixed, weighted toward working-class.
The buyer profile here is sophisticated cash-flow operators, similar to Cleveland but a step less institutional. Local operators run 30 to 100 unit portfolios across East Akron, North Hill, and Goodyear Heights with Section 8 strategies. Out-of-state operators picking Ohio sometimes prefer Akron over Cleveland specifically for the after-tax math. The PM market is adequate but less deep than Cleveland or Cincinnati. The premium suburbs (Hudson, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls) attract a different operator type focused on appreciation and family rental quality at lower cap rates.
The 2026 outlook is steady. Rent growth in the metro tracked at 2.2 percent year-over-year through Q1. Days on market at 31 indicates a balanced inventory environment. City of Akron population continues to drift slightly negative, but rent has held up because demand for affordable housing exceeds supply at the FMR price point. The structural opportunity for 2026 operators is finding East Akron or North Hill inventory below $90,000 where Section 8 placement at $1,547 FMR produces strong after-tax cash flow.
BRRR works in Akron with similar mechanics to Cleveland, slightly easier on the tax side. Distressed inventory below $80,000 is concentrated in East Akron, North Hill, and parts of West Akron. Typical rehab budgets run $20,000 to $45,000 because the housing stock includes 1900s-1950s SFH that often need roof, plumbing, electrical, and structural work. ARVs in those neighborhoods support $115,000 to $145,000 on improved 3BR product. The refinance environment is workable but lender appetite for sub-$100,000 rentals has tightened. DSCR loan pricing through Q1 2026 in the high 7s to low 8s. The most consistent BRRR formula in Akron right now is $55,000 acquisition, $30,000 rehab, $1,150 a month Section 8 lease, and refinance at 70 percent of a $130,000 ARV.
Akron Section 8 produces operator-favorable FMR-to-market spreads similar to Cleveland but slightly less extreme. The 2BR Fair Market Rent of $1,268 sits $300 to $400 above the working-class 2BR market rate, and the 3BR FMR of $1,547 runs $400 to $550 above the open-market 3BR average in East Akron, North Hill, and Goodyear Heights. Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority manages the bulk of vouchers, with Summit County PHA adding capacity. PHA payment standards typically run 90 to 110 percent of FMR. The largest operational consideration in Akron Section 8 is HQS inspection compliance combined with the lead paint requirements for pre-1978 housing. Operators who keep certified RRP contractors on call and document compliance pass annual inspections cleanly.
HUD sets Fair Market Rents annually for the Akron, OH MSA. These payment standards drive what voucher administrators will pay landlords participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program.
| Unit Size | FMR (FY2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $985/mo |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,268/mo |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,547/mo |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,681/mo |
Akron is an experienced-operator Ohio cash-flow market. PM fees run 8 to 10 percent of collected rent for full service. The PM market is less deep than Cleveland or Cincinnati but adequate for typical investor needs. Multiple firms run 100 to 1,000 unit portfolios. Ohio is moderately landlord-friendly with no rent control, 30 to 45 day uncontested eviction timelines, and reasonable security deposit rules. Summit County property tax at 1.62 percent is the largest structural cost relative to Indianapolis or Cincinnati but materially better than Cleveland. The risk for out-of-state Akron operators is mostly market depth: inventory below $90,000 in working-class submarkets moves quickly when priced correctly, and quality PMs willing to manage lower-income SFH at scale are a more limited pool than in Cleveland or Cincinnati.
Eviction timeline, security deposit limits, rent control posture, and required disclosures for Ohio rental property.
Neighborhood-level pricing and rent figures are operator-reported ranges and may vary by block, condition, and rehab level. Use as directional guidance, not as appraisal substitutes.
| Neighborhood | Median Price | Median 3BR Rent | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Square | $185K | $1,500 | Walkable urban-adjacent, professional renters, lower turnover |
| West Akron | $155K | $1,350 | Mixed working-class, balanced returns |
| North Hill | $95K | $1,100 | Working-class, value entry, Section 8 active |
| East Akron | $75K | $950 | Deep cash flow, distressed inventory, operator-grade only |
| Goodyear Heights | $115K | $1,200 | Historic working-class, value play, mixed inventory |
| Cuyahoga Falls (suburb) | $215K | $1,500 | Inner-ring suburb, family rentals, balanced returns |
| Stow (suburb) | $285K | $1,750 | Newer suburb, top schools, family rentals, lower yield |
| Hudson (suburb) | $485K | $2,200 | Premium suburb, executive renters, lowest cap rate |
Investors evaluating Akron usually shortlist 3 to 5 comparable markets. These are the closest comparables for cash-flow profile, Section 8 depth, or entry price.
Pair the data on this page with the deeper guides and tools used by operators running Birmingham portfolios. Every link below is contextually relevant to the strategies discussed above.
Akron investors managing portfolios across East Akron, North Hill, and the Cuyahoga Falls suburb use DoorVault to track property tax separately by submarket, monitor lead paint compliance documentation per property, and reconcile Section 8 HAP payments against working-class market-rate units. Knox, our AI assistant, automatically files HQS inspection reports and lead-safe certifications against the right unit. The platform is free to start and built for landlords running 1 to 200 doors across the Akron metro.
Akron is a high-cap-rate Ohio cash-flow market often shortlisted alongside Cleveland and Dayton. Median city-of-Akron single-family pricing around $145,000 against 3BR rents averaging $1,275 produces 8 to 11 percent gross cap rates. Summit County effective property tax at 1.62 percent is materially below Cuyahoga County (Cleveland at 2.16 percent). The market suits cash-flow operators willing to accept the operational overhead of city-of-Akron lower-income SFH.
Akron has structurally lower property tax (1.62 percent versus Cleveland's 2.16 percent) and a smaller, more manageable PM market. Cleveland offers deeper Section 8 spreads and higher gross cap rates due to lower entry prices in distressed neighborhoods. Akron sits in the middle: better after-tax math than Cleveland on similar gross yields, but not the same depth of opportunity. For operators looking to spread Ohio exposure across multiple metros, both work.
Cap rates in Akron run 8 to 11 percent in city-of-Akron working-class submarkets (East Akron, North Hill, Goodyear Heights) before tax. After Summit County 1.62 percent property tax, net cap rates compress to roughly 7 to 9.5 percent. Inner-ring suburbs (Cuyahoga Falls) pencil at 6 to 7 percent. Premium suburbs (Hudson, Stow) come in at 4.5 to 6 percent because the appreciation premium reduces gross yield.
Yes. Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) administers a substantial voucher pool. The 3BR Fair Market Rent of $1,547 sits roughly $250 to $400 above the working-class market 3BR rate in East Akron, North Hill, and Goodyear Heights. Summit County PHA adds capacity. PHA payment standards typically run 90 to 110 percent of FMR. Section 8 placement is consistent in city-of-Akron working-class neighborhoods.
Ohio is moderately landlord-friendly. There is no rent control statewide, eviction timelines for nonpayment run 30 to 45 days for uncontested cases, and security deposits are not statutorily capped. Summit County property tax at 1.62 percent is lower than Cuyahoga (Cleveland) but higher than Hamilton (Cincinnati). Akron city has tenant notice requirements beyond state law.
Most city-of-Akron SFH inventory was built before 1978, which means lead-based paint compliance applies to any rehab affecting painted surfaces. Lead-safe work practices and EPA Renovate, Repair, and Paint (RRP) certification are required. HQS inspections for Section 8 placement enforce these standards. Operators who plan rehab and turnover work with certified RRP contractors avoid compliance issues. The compliance overhead is real but manageable when built into operating procedures.
Track every property, every tenant, every payment, and every Section 8 HAP contract in one place. DoorVault is free to start and built for landlords running 1 to 200 doors.
Start tracking free