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MarketsOhioZanesvilleCost of Living & Affordability

Cost of Living & Affordability: Zanesville, OH

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Zanesville, OH

Cap Rate
3.27%
Median Price
$200K
Rent/Mo
$1,010
1% Rule
0.51%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Zanesville's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x — homes cost 4.2 times the local median household income of $47,711. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Zanesville (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,330/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,660. The median rent of $1,010/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Zanesville is $47,711, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.2% per year. Zanesville is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions.

What This Means for Investors

Zanesville is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

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How Zanesville Compares

Zanesville vs Ohio state average and national average across key investment metrics. Zanesville's cap rate is below both benchmarks — deal sourcing is critical here.

Metric
Zanesville
Ohio Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
3.27%
3.65%
3.81%
Median Price
$200K
$218K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,010
$1,149
$1,524
Property Tax
1.58%
1.58%
1.08%
Vacancy
6.7%
6.7%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.2%/yr
0.2%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby Midwest Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Zanesville, OH
3.3%
$200K
$1,010
1.58%
Canton, OH
3.2%
$205K
$1,030
1.58%
Waterloo, IA
4.0%
$195K
$1,100
1.5%
Austin, MN
2.9%
$195K
$830
1.12%
Greenville, OH
1.3%
$205K
$680
1.58%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zanesville affordable for renters?
Renters in Zanesville spend approximately 25% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $47,711, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Zanesville?
Zanesville's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x, meaning homes cost 4.2 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Zanesville?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $200K home is approximately $1,064/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,394/mo. The median rent of $1,010/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does Zanesville's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Zanesville ($200K) are 40% below the national average. Rents ($1,010/mo) are 34% below average. Property taxes (1.58%) are above the 1.08% national average.
Full Zanesville Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Zanesville & Related Markets

More Zanesville Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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