Is Portage County, OH good for real estate investing?

Portage County has an investment score of 67/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #222 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in Portage County is 6.35% annually, which ranks in the 61th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Portage?

The median home price in Portage County is $268,349. This ranks #480 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Portage?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Portage County would generate negative cash flow of $483/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Portage County

OhioPopulation: 161,217

/100

Buy

#222 of 1,000 counties

#55 in Ohio (88 counties)

Market Snapshot

$268,349

Median Home Price

2% below national median

$1,421/mo

Median Rent

5% below national median

6.35%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 39% nationally

-$483

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$268,349

Down Payment (20%)$53,670

Loan Amount$214,679

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,421

Monthly P&I-$1,407

Est. Expenses (35%)-$497

Net Cash Flow-$483/mo

4.1%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.35%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.1% 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

67/100

Cash Flow(30%)

64/100

Based on 6.35% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

85/100

Based on 4.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

72/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.8x. 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

+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$483/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.1% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

161,217

Median Income

$69,796

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.8x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
LorainOH	68	$249,898	$1,320	6.34%	Buy	View
GreeneOH	68	$289,519	$1,628	6.75%	Buy	View
MiamiOH	68	$260,436	$1,377	6.34%	Buy	View
CurrentPortageOH	67	$268,349	$1,421	6.35%	Buy
TuscarawasOH	67	$203,609	$900	5.30%	Buy	View
AthensOH	67	$176,331	$965	6.57%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyPortage offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Portage County in Ohio scores 67/100, ranking #222 of 1,000 US counties (top 22%). The 6.35% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-483/mo

Cap Rate

4.1%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.4%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Portage?

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

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

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$268,349

Down Payment (20%)$53,670

Loan Amount$214,679

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,421

Monthly P&I-$1,407

Est. Expenses (35%)-$497

Net Cash Flow-$483/mo

4.1%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.35%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.1% 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

67/100

Cash Flow(30%)

64/100

Based on 6.35% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

85/100

Based on 4.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

72/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.8x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

LorainOH

$249,898

$1,320

6.34%

Buy

View

GreeneOH

$289,519

$1,628

6.75%

Buy

View

MiamiOH

$260,436

$1,377

6.34%

Buy

View

CurrentPortageOH

$268,349

$1,421

6.35%

Buy

TuscarawasOH

$203,609

$900

5.30%

Buy

View

AthensOH

$176,331

$965

6.57%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyPortage offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-483/mo

Cap Rate

4.1%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.4%