CINCINNATI — A new study from online listing service RENTCafe shows neighborhoods in Cincinnati like OTR and some parts of Walnut Hills are among the most expensive in Ohio.

Topping the list, with the most expensive rent overall, are homeowners in the 45202 zip code -- which includes Downtown, OTR, Mount Adams and parts of Walnut Hills.

The average rent in this area of Cincinnati runs about $1,600 a month, which is higher than even Columbus' Short North and German Village.

The data shows average monthly rent in Cincinnati has gone up citywide by around $132 since 2016.

The issue of rising rent prices is cited as one of the main effects of gentrification, which pushes communities out of neighborhoods as they become too expensive.

"This is the only place we know," said Johnny Hunley, who lives in Pendleton. "We live down here. So why do you want to push the poor people out of their community just for yourself?"

Hunley currently stays in Pendleton, but he's called a lot of neighborhoods nearby home as he's bounced around as rents have risen over the past decade. He said he's finally in a place where rent feels stable, but it hasn't been an easy road getting there.

"When the rent go up, that's when people have to move," he said.

Others in the city said the rising rents are an indication that Cincinnati is back on the map as a desirable place to live.

"Some of the larger cities don't have quite the density," said Brian Rowland, who lives Downtown. "So like, Cincinnati seems to have a lot of stuff in a very short area, dense area, like OTR, the Banks, Clifton, Eden Park."

Ranking in with the fourth highest rent in the nation are areas around the University of Cincinnati; neighborhoods with the 45219 area code are only beat out by Cleveland areas like Tremont, Ohio City and suburban Beachwood.

The average rent in those UC-adjacent regions are only cheaper than OTR and Downtown by an average of $80 a month.