%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
← All comparisons

Cincinnati vs Youngstown for Rental Property Investing

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

◉
Cincinnati wins 4–3 across key metrics
Youngstown leads on cash flow (4.59% vs 3.48% cap rate) · Cincinnati leads on population growth
Metric
Cincinnati, OH
Youngstown, OH
Est. Cap Rate
3.48%
4.59%
Median Home Price
$300,000
$165,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,540
$1,050
1% Rule
0.51%
0.64%
GRM
16.2x
13.1x
Price / Income
6.7x
5.4x
Property Tax Rate
1.52%
1.6%
Vacancy Rate
5.8%
8.5%
Population Growth
0.4% / yr
-0.5% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.8%
1.5%
Population
311,097
62,000
Median Income
$44,800
$30,800

Cincinnati vs Youngstown: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Youngstown has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.59% compared to Cincinnati's 3.48%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $300,000 in Cincinnati vs $165,000 in Youngstown, while rents come in at $1,540/mo and $1,050/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Cincinnati is growing faster at 0.4% annually, while Youngstown is losing population. Cincinnati leads on home value appreciation at 2.8% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.52% in Cincinnati vs 1.6% in Youngstown. Vacancy rates of 5.8% and 8.5% are mixed — Cincinnati has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Youngstown offers a lower entry at $165K vs Cincinnati's $300K — a difference of $135K. With a 20% down payment, that's $33K vs $60K. Youngstown combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Cincinnati edges out Youngstown on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.48%, Cincinnati's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Cincinnati or Youngstown.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →
Cincinnati, OH
3.48% cap rate · $300,000 median · $1,540/mo
Full analysis →
Youngstown, OH
4.59% cap rate · $165,000 median · $1,050/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cincinnati or Youngstown better for rental investing?
Cincinnati wins 4–3 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Cincinnati's 3.48% cap rate and $300K median price edge out Youngstown's 4.59% at $165K.
What is the cap rate difference between Cincinnati and Youngstown?
Cincinnati has a 3.48% cap rate vs Youngstown's 4.59% — a difference of 1.10 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?
Cincinnati has lower property taxes at 1.52% vs 1.6%. On a $233K property, that's a difference of approximately $1,920/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Cincinnati is growing at 0.4% annually vs Youngstown's -0.5%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Cincinnati's appreciation rate of 2.8% also leads on home value growth.

Explore More

vs Toledo, OH →vs Cleveland, OH →vs Columbus, OH →vs Columbus, OH →All Ohio Markets →3% – 4% Cap Rate Cities →4% – 5% Cap Rate Cities →Best Midwest Markets →Highest Vacancy Markets →
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.