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

Lima vs Mansfield for Rental Property Investing

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

Lima wins 3–0 across key metrics
Lima leads on cash flow (4.90% vs 2.86% cap rate)
Metric
Lima, OH
Mansfield, OH
Est. Cap Rate
4.90%
2.86%
Median Home Price
$180,000
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,170
$890
1% Rule
0.65%
0.47%
GRM
12.8x
17.8x
Price / Income
3.8x
4.0x
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

Lima vs Mansfield: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Lima has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.90% compared to Mansfield's 2.86%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $180,000 in Lima vs $190,000 in Mansfield, while rents come in at $1,170/mo and $890/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

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

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

Entry point: Lima offers a lower entry at $180K vs Mansfield's $190K — a difference of $10K. With a 20% down payment, that's $36K vs $38K. Lima combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Lima edges out Mansfield on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.90%, Lima's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Lima or Mansfield.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →
Lima, OH
4.90% cap rate · $180,000 median · $1,170/mo
Full analysis →
Mansfield, OH
2.86% cap rate · $190,000 median · $890/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lima or Mansfield better for rental investing?
Lima wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Lima's 4.90% cap rate and $180K median price offer both higher returns and a lower entry point.
What is the cap rate difference between Lima and Mansfield?
Lima has a 4.90% cap rate vs Mansfield's 2.86% — a difference of 2.03 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?
Mansfield has lower property taxes at 1.58% vs 1.58%. On a $185K property, that's a difference of approximately $158/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Lima is growing at 0.2% annually vs Mansfield's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Lima's appreciation rate of 2.2% also leads on home value growth.

Explore More

The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.