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Mount Vernon vs Norwalk for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Mount Vernon, OH and Norwalk, OH — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Norwalk wins 3–0 across key metrics
Norwalk leads on cash flow (6.40% vs 2.79% cap rate) · Mount Vernon leads on population growth
Metric
Mount Vernon, OH
Norwalk, OH
Est. Cap Rate
2.79%
6.40%
Median Home Price
$275,000
$185,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,270
$1,450
1% Rule
0.46%
0.78%
GRM
18.0x
10.6x
Price / Income
5.8x
3.9x
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

Mount Vernon vs Norwalk: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Norwalk has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 6.40% compared to Mount Vernon's 2.79%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $275,000 in Mount Vernon vs $185,000 in Norwalk, while rents come in at $1,270/mo and $1,450/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

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

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

Entry point: Norwalk offers a lower entry at $185K vs Mount Vernon's $275K — a difference of $90K. With a 20% down payment, that's $37K vs $55K. Norwalk combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Norwalk edges out Mount Vernon on most key metrics. With a 6.40% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Mount Vernon or Norwalk.

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Mount Vernon, OH
2.79% cap rate · $275,000 median · $1,270/mo
Full analysis →
Norwalk, OH
6.40% cap rate · $185,000 median · $1,450/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Vernon or Norwalk better for rental investing?
Norwalk wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics. Norwalk's 6.40% cap rate and $185K median price give it the edge overall.
What is the cap rate difference between Mount Vernon and Norwalk?
Mount Vernon has a 2.79% cap rate vs Norwalk's 6.40% — a difference of 3.60 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?
Norwalk has lower property taxes at 1.58% vs 1.58%. On a $230K property, that's a difference of approximately $1,422/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Mount Vernon is growing at 0.2% annually vs Norwalk's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Mount Vernon's appreciation rate of 2.2% also leads on home value growth.

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