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Ashtabula vs Bellefontaine for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Ashtabula, OH and Bellefontaine, OH — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Ashtabula wins 3–0 across key metrics
Ashtabula leads on cash flow (4.21% vs 3.12% cap rate)
Metric
Ashtabula, OH
Bellefontaine, OH
Est. Cap Rate
4.21%
3.12%
Median Home Price
$170,000
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
$1,180
1% Rule
0.59%
0.49%
GRM
14.2x
16.9x
Price / Income
3.6x
5.0x
Property Tax Rate
1.58%
1.58%
Vacancy Rate
6.7%
6.7%
Population Growth
0.2% / yr
0.2% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.2%
2.2%
Population
50,000
50,000
Median Income
$47,711
$47,711

Ashtabula vs Bellefontaine: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Ashtabula has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.21% compared to Bellefontaine's 3.12%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $170,000 in Ashtabula vs $240,000 in Bellefontaine, while rents come in at $1,000/mo and $1,180/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Ashtabula is growing faster at 0.2% annually vs Bellefontaine's 0.2%. Ashtabula leads on home value appreciation at 2.2% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.58% in Ashtabula vs 1.58% in Bellefontaine. Vacancy rates of 6.7% and 6.7% are mixed — Bellefontaine has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Ashtabula offers a lower entry at $170K vs Bellefontaine's $240K — a difference of $70K. With a 20% down payment, that's $34K vs $48K. Ashtabula combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Ashtabula edges out Bellefontaine on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.21%, Ashtabula's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Ashtabula or Bellefontaine.

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Ashtabula, OH
4.21% cap rate · $170,000 median · $1,000/mo
Full analysis →
Bellefontaine, OH
3.12% cap rate · $240,000 median · $1,180/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashtabula or Bellefontaine better for rental investing?
Ashtabula wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Ashtabula's 4.21% cap rate and $170K median price offer both higher returns and a lower entry point.
What is the cap rate difference between Ashtabula and Bellefontaine?
Ashtabula has a 4.21% cap rate vs Bellefontaine's 3.12% — a difference of 1.08 percentage points. This is a significant gap that meaningfully impacts cash flow. For context, the national average is 3.81%.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Bellefontaine has lower property taxes at 1.58% vs 1.58%. On a $205K property, that's a difference of approximately $1,106/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Ashtabula is growing at 0.2% annually vs Bellefontaine's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Ashtabula's appreciation rate of 2.2% also leads on home value growth.

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