Kent is also a major college town with a large number of people who are 18 years or older and attending college. As is often the case in college towns, the many students that live in Kent have a strong influence on the local culture and entertainment scene, which may seem dormant by comparison in the summer months when much of the student population is away. In the fall, the return of students has a reinvigorating effect on the community. Because colleges are lasting institutions, they have a stabilizing effect on the economy by providing direct local benefits such as jobs for faculty and staff and spending by students. Kent’s economy is one such example of this.
Kent, while not large, also appears to be attractive to some younger, educated professionals, who help shape the character of the city.
The education level of Kent ranks among the highest in the nation. Of the 25-and-older adult population in Kent, 44.51% have at least a bachelor's degree. The typical US community has just 21.84% of its adults holding a bachelor's degree or graduate degree.
The per capita income in Kent in 2022 was $27,506, which is lower middle income relative to Ohio and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $110,024 for a family of four. However, Kent contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.
Kent is a somewhat ethnically-diverse city. The people who call Kent home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Kent residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Kent include German, Irish, English, Italian, and Polish.
The most common language spoken in Kent is English. Other important languages spoken here include Arabic and Langs. of India.
