Is Lucas County, OH good for real estate investing?

Lucas County has an investment score of 75/100, rated as "Strong Buy". The county ranks #40 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Lucas?

The rent-to-price ratio in Lucas County is 7.83% annually, which ranks in the 90th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Lucas?

The median home price in Lucas County is $169,370. This ranks #123 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Lucas?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Lucas County would generate negative cash flow of $170/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Lucas County

OhioPopulation: 430,014

/100

Strong Buy

#40 of 1,000 counties

#18 in Ohio (88 counties)

Market Snapshot

$169,370

Median Home Price

38% below national median

$1,105/mo

Median Rent

26% below national median

7.83%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 10% nationally

-$170

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

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$169,370

Down Payment (20%)$33,874

Loan Amount$135,496

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,105

Monthly P&I-$888

Est. Expenses (35%)-$387

Net Cash Flow-$170/mo

5.1%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-5.2%

Cash-on-Cash Return

7.83%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.1% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

75/100

Cash Flow(30%)

78/100

Based on 7.83% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

87/100

Based on 5.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

86/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (7.83%)
+Strong price appreciation (+5.4% YoY)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 5.1% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

430,014

Median Income

$57,265

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.0x

Very affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
AllenOH	76	$182,763	$1,219	8.00%	Strong Buy	View
SciotoOH	76	$135,788	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
CurrentLucasOH	75	$169,370	$1,105	7.83%	Strong Buy
MarionOH	75	$174,391	$1,198	8.24%	Strong Buy	View
HighlandOH	75	$194,414	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
MercerOH	75	$263,154	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View

The Bottom Line

Strong BuyLucas is a strong buy market with excellent fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

Lucas County in Ohio scores 75/100, ranking #40 of 1,000 US counties (top 4%). The 7.83% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-170/mo

Cap Rate

5.1%

Cash-on-Cash

-5.2%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Lucas?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

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Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$169,370

Down Payment (20%)$33,874

Loan Amount$135,496

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,105

Monthly P&I-$888

Est. Expenses (35%)-$387

Net Cash Flow-$170/mo

5.1%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-5.2%

Cash-on-Cash Return

7.83%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.1% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

75/100

Cash Flow(30%)

78/100

Based on 7.83% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

87/100

Based on 5.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

86/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
AllenOH	76	$182,763	$1,219	8.00%	Strong Buy	View
SciotoOH	76	$135,788	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
CurrentLucasOH	75	$169,370	$1,105	7.83%	Strong Buy
MarionOH	75	$174,391	$1,198	8.24%	Strong Buy	View
HighlandOH	75	$194,414	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
MercerOH	75	$263,154	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View