Side-by-side comparison of Canton, OH and Ashland, OH — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Canton has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.20% compared to Ashland's 1.86%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $205,000 in Canton vs $235,000 in Ashland, while rents come in at $1,030/mo and $890/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.
Growth & appreciation: Ashland is growing faster at 0.2% annually, while Canton is losing population. Ashland leads on home value appreciation at 2.2% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.58% in Canton vs 1.58% in Ashland. Vacancy rates of 7.5% and 6.7% are mixed — Ashland has the tighter rental market.
Entry point: Canton offers a lower entry at $205K vs Ashland's $235K — a difference of $30K. With a 20% down payment, that's $41K vs $47K. Canton combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.
Bottom line: These two markets are remarkably similar — the best choice depends on your strategy. Canton is better for cash flow, Ashland for growth. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Canton or Ashland.