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Best Cities for Rental Property in Ohio

27 Ohio cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Ohio markets is 3.7%, with median home prices averaging $218K and rents averaging $1,149/mo. Norwalk leads with a 6.4% cap rate at a $185K median price. Note that Ohio's average property tax rate of 1.58% is above the national average — factor this into your underwriting.

3.7%
Avg Cap Rate
$218K
Avg Price
$1,149/mo
Avg Rent
27
Cities Tracked

Ohio Rental Market Analysis

Ohio offers 27 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 3.7% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Ohio home prices average $218K, which is 35% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,149/mo. The most affordable entry point is Salem at $155K, while Norwalk offers the highest cap rate at 6.4%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.58% across Ohio, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Cincinnati has the lowest rate at 1.52%.Vacancy averages 6.7%, in line with national norms.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Ohio averages 0.19% per year, led by Dublin at 1.5%. Home values are appreciating at 2.2% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Ohio is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Ohio Compares to National Averages

Metric
Ohio
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
3.7%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$218K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,149/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.58%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
6.7%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.19%/yr
0.92%/yr

Ohio Cities by Cap Rate Tier

6% – 7% (1)5% – 6% (2)4% – 5% (8)3% – 4% (7)Below 3% (9)

All 27 Ohio Cities Ranked

1
Norwalk, OH6.4% cap rate
$185K median$1,450/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
2
Marion, OH5.8% cap rate
$170K median$1,240/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
3
Salem, OH5.3% cap rate
$155K median$1,070/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
4
Lima, OH4.9% cap rate
$180K median$1,170/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
5
Sandusky, OH4.9% cap rate
$230K median$1,490/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
6
Cambridge, OH4.8% cap rate
$160K median$1,020/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
7
Youngstown, OH4.6% cap rate
$165K median$1,050/mo rent1.6% tax-0.5% growth
8
Toledo, OH4.3% cap rate
$190K median$1,160/mo rent1.65% tax-0.3% growth
9
Ashtabula, OH4.2% cap rate
$170K median$1,000/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
10
Springfield, OH4.1% cap rate
$195K median$1,120/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
11
Cleveland, OH4.0% cap rate
$240K median$1,390/mo rent1.63% tax-0.1% growth
12
Sidney, OH3.8% cap rate
$235K median$1,290/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
13
Findlay, OH3.8% cap rate
$230K median$1,260/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
14
Akron, OH3.6% cap rate
$230K median$1,240/mo rent1.58% tax-0.2% growth
15
Cincinnati, OH3.5% cap rate
$300K median$1,540/mo rent1.52% tax0.4% growth
16
Zanesville, OH3.3% cap rate
$200K median$1,010/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
17
Canton, OH3.2% cap rate
$205K median$1,030/mo rent1.58% tax-0.3% growth
18
Bellefontaine, OH3.1% cap rate
$240K median$1,180/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
19
Dublin, OH3.0% cap rate
$320K median$1,480/mo rent1.54% tax1.5% growth
20
Columbus, OH2.9% cap rate
$320K median$1,480/mo rent1.56% tax1.2% growth
21
Mansfield, OH2.9% cap rate
$190K median$890/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
22
Mount Vernon, OH2.8% cap rate
$275K median$1,270/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
23
Tiffin, OH2.4% cap rate
$165K median$710/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
24
Urbana, OH2.1% cap rate
$240K median$950/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
25
Dayton, OH1.9% cap rate
$250K median$960/mo rent1.6% tax-0.1% growth
26
Ashland, OH1.9% cap rate
$235K median$890/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth
27
Greenville, OH1.3% cap rate
$205K median$680/mo rent1.58% tax0.2% growth

Other Midwest States

Illinois (17 cities · 4.4% avg)Indiana (25 cities · 4.0% avg)Michigan (22 cities · 3.9% avg)Kansas (14 cities · 3.8% avg)Missouri (17 cities · 3.3% avg)Nebraska (10 cities · 3.3% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ohio a good state for rental property investing?
Ohio has an average cap rate of 3.7% across 27 cities. The best-performing city is Norwalk at 6.4%. Average home prices of $218K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 1.58% are a consideration.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Ohio?
Norwalk leads Ohio with a 6.4% cap rate, $185K median price, and $1,450/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Dublin (1.5% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Ohio?
Property taxes in Ohio average 1.58%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Cincinnati at 1.52%. On an average-priced home of $218K, annual taxes are approximately $3,444.
How many Ohio cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 27 Ohio cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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