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Market MapColumbus, OH
Metropolitan Area

Columbus, OH

Ohio08 counties
57
/100
Hold
#1 of 0 metros
Top 50% nationally for investing

Market Snapshot

$319,706
Median Home Price
0% below national median
$1,488/mo
Median Rent
0% below national median
5.59%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 50% nationally
-$709
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$319,706
Down Payment (20%)$63,941
Loan Amount$255,765
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,488
Monthly P&I-$1,676
Est. Expenses (35%)-$521
Net Cash Flow-$709/mo
3.6%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-11.6%
Cash-on-Cash Return
5.59%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.6% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on metro-wide median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Individual counties and properties vary significantly.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
57/100
57
Cash Flow(30%)
54/100

Based on 5.59% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
65/100

Based on 1.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Based on 0.0% population growth. Growing areas indicate economic stability.

Affordability(20%)
61/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow metro-level home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. This metro score represents area-wide averages; individual counties may vary significantly.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Low unemployment (0.0%)
  • +Large metro with 8 counties offering diverse opportunities

Challenges

  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$709/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 3.6% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Counties in Columbus, OH

Best Overall
Pickaway
OH - Score: 66
Best Cash Flow
Madison
OH - Score: 62
Most Affordable
Morrow
OH - Score: 61
Verdict
PickawayOH
58,80966$316,053Est.BuyView
LickingOH
178,84463$325,242$1,7366.40%BuyView
MadisonOH
43,96162$304,222$1,7797.02%BuyView
MorrowOH
35,04961$270,100Est.BuyView
FairfieldOH
159,37159$351,811$1,6695.69%HoldView
FranklinOH
1,318,14958$286,021$1,4356.02%HoldView
UnionOH
63,41155$399,386$1,4774.44%HoldView
DelawareOH
216,07450$500,204$1,5753.78%HoldView

Click any county to see detailed investment analysis

Compare to Similar Metros

Metro AreaVerdict
Pottsville, PA
Pottsville, PA
77$155,836$1,1458.82%Strong BuyView
Wheeling, WV
Wheeling, WV
77$136,692$8927.83%Strong BuyView
Fremont, OH
Fremont, OH
77$184,312Est.Strong BuyView
Binghamton, NY
Binghamton, NY
77$187,872$1,3958.91%Strong BuyView
Muncie, IN
Muncie, IN
77$160,460$1,0718.01%Strong BuyView
Current
Columbus, OH
57$319,706$1,4885.59%Hold

The Bottom Line

HoldColumbus, OH is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals in specific counties.

The Columbus, OH metro area scores 57/100, ranking #1 of 0 US metros (top 50%). The 5.59% rent-to-price ratio may require targeting specific counties or creative strategies for positive cash flow. Among 8 counties, Pickaway shows the strongest investment potential (score: 66). Current metro-wide averages make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or drilling down to specific counties.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-709/mo
Cap Rate
3.6%
Cash-on-Cash
-13.3%

Ready to Invest in Columbus, OH?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties, or explore individual counties for more targeted opportunities.

Single Family1-4 unit rentalsHouse HackOwner-occupiedMultifamily5+ unit propertiesBest CountyPickaway
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