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Cost of Living & Affordability: Ashtabula, OH

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Ashtabula, OH

Cap Rate
4.21%
Median Price
$170K
Rent/Mo
$1,000
1% Rule
0.59%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Ashtabula's price-to-income ratio is 3.6x — homes cost 3.6 times the local median household income of $47,711. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Ashtabula (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,131/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,412. The median rent of $1,000/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Ashtabula is $47,711, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.2% per year. Ashtabula is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions.

What This Means for Investors

Ashtabula is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

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How Ashtabula Compares

Ashtabula vs Ohio state average and national average across key investment metrics. Ashtabula outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.

Metric
Ashtabula
Ohio Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.21%
3.65%
3.81%
Median Price
$170K
$218K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,000
$1,149
$1,524
Property Tax
1.58%
1.58%
1.08%
Vacancy
6.7%
6.7%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.2%/yr
0.2%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby Midwest Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Ashtabula, OH
4.2%
$170K
$1,000
1.58%
Clinton, IA
2.9%
$170K
$780
1.51%
Marion, OH
5.8%
$170K
$1,240
1.58%
Peoria, IL
4.9%
$165K
$1,150
2.1%
Youngstown, OH
4.6%
$165K
$1,050
1.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashtabula affordable for renters?
Renters in Ashtabula spend approximately 25% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $47,711, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Ashtabula?
Ashtabula's price-to-income ratio is 3.6x, meaning homes cost 3.6 times the local median income. This is very affordable — below the 4x threshold that typically signals a healthy buyer's market.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ashtabula?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $170K home is approximately $904/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,185/mo. The median rent of $1,000/mo is less than the cost of buying — this parity means some renters could transition to buying.
How does Ashtabula's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Ashtabula ($170K) are 49% below the national average. Rents ($1,000/mo) are 34% below average. Property taxes (1.58%) are above the 1.08% national average.
Full Ashtabula Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Ashtabula & Related Markets

More Ashtabula Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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