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Springfield vs Urbana for Rental Property Investing

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

Springfield wins 3–0 across key metrics
Springfield leads on cash flow (4.05% vs 2.05% cap rate)
Metric
Springfield, OH
Urbana, OH
Est. Cap Rate
4.05%
2.05%
Median Home Price
$195,000
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,120
$950
1% Rule
0.57%
0.40%
GRM
14.5x
21.1x
Price / Income
4.1x
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

Springfield vs Urbana: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Springfield has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.05% compared to Urbana's 2.05%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $195,000 in Springfield vs $240,000 in Urbana, while rents come in at $1,120/mo and $950/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

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

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

Entry point: Springfield offers a lower entry at $195K vs Urbana's $240K — a difference of $45K. With a 20% down payment, that's $39K vs $48K. Springfield combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Springfield edges out Urbana on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.05%, Springfield's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Springfield or Urbana.

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Springfield, OH
4.05% cap rate · $195,000 median · $1,120/mo
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Urbana, OH
2.05% cap rate · $240,000 median · $950/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Springfield or Urbana better for rental investing?
Springfield wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Springfield's 4.05% cap rate and $195K median price offer both higher returns and a lower entry point.
What is the cap rate difference between Springfield and Urbana?
Springfield has a 4.05% cap rate vs Urbana's 2.05% — a difference of 2.00 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?
Urbana has lower property taxes at 1.58% vs 1.58%. On a $218K property, that's a difference of approximately $711/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Springfield is growing at 0.2% annually vs Urbana's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Springfield's appreciation rate of 2.2% also leads on home value growth.

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