Is Jefferson County, OH good for real estate investing?

Jefferson County has an investment score of 78/100, rated as "Strong Buy". The county ranks #10 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in Jefferson County is 8.49% annually, which ranks in the 94th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Jefferson?

The median home price in Jefferson County is $121,371. This ranks #68 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Jefferson?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Jefferson County would generate negative cash flow of $78/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Jefferson County

OhioPopulation: 65,280

/100

Strong Buy

#10 of 1,000 counties

#1 in Ohio (88 counties)

Market Snapshot

$121,371

Median Home Price

48% below national median

$858/mo

Median Rent

43% below national median

8.49%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 6% nationally

-$78

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$121,371

Down Payment (20%)$24,274

Loan Amount$97,097

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$858

Monthly P&I-$636

Est. Expenses (35%)-$300

Net Cash Flow-$78/mo

5.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-3.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.49%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.5% 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

78/100

Cash Flow(30%)

85/100

Based on 8.49% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

84/100

Based on 4.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

96/100

Price-to-income ratio of 2.3x. 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 (8.49%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 5.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

65,280

Median Income

$53,124

vs $57,025 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

2.3x

Very affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentJeffersonOH	78	$121,371	$858	8.49%	Strong Buy
Van WertOH	77	$180,778	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
TrumbullOH	77	$160,493	$1,069	7.99%	Strong Buy	View
SciotoOH	76	$135,788	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
LucasOH	75	$169,370	$1,105	7.83%	Strong Buy	View
MarionOH	75	$174,391	$1,198	8.24%	Strong Buy	View

The Bottom Line

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

Jefferson County in Ohio scores 78/100, ranking #10 of 1,000 US counties (top 1%). The 8.49% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-78/mo

Cap Rate

5.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-3.4%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Jefferson?

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$121,371

Down Payment (20%)$24,274

Loan Amount$97,097

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$858

Monthly P&I-$636

Est. Expenses (35%)-$300

Net Cash Flow-$78/mo

5.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-3.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.49%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.5% 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

78/100

Cash Flow(30%)

85/100

Based on 8.49% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

84/100

Based on 4.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

96/100

Price-to-income ratio of 2.3x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentJeffersonOH	78	$121,371	$858	8.49%	Strong Buy
Van WertOH	77	$180,778	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
TrumbullOH	77	$160,493	$1,069	7.99%	Strong Buy	View
SciotoOH	76	$135,788	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
LucasOH	75	$169,370	$1,105	7.83%	Strong Buy	View
MarionOH	75	$174,391	$1,198	8.24%	Strong Buy	View

The Bottom Line

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

Jefferson County in Ohio scores 78/100, ranking #10 of 1,000 US counties (top 1%). The 8.49% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-78/mo

Cap Rate

5.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-3.4%