What it's like to live in Kettering
Kettering is a smaller city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kettering deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Kettering compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kettering
Based on Kettering's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,102
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,040 a year
- 41% of Kettering renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,700
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,850
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 26% below US
$1,051/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,051 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $208,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $208,500 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 74% below US
86 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1378/100k · Kettering Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 16% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (7 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Kettering's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,051/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Kettering
All Ohio guides →Moving to Centerville →
4 mi away · pop. 25,205
Rent $1,270/mo · Income $85,492
Compare with Kettering →Moving to Beavercreek →
5 mi away · pop. 47,126
Rent $1,457/mo · Income $110,088
Compare with Kettering →Not sure Kettering is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.