Real Estate Investing in Columbus, Ohio (43202)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Franklin County • Population: 20,059 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 43202 (Columbus, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Declining values: -0.2% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.

What’s happening in Columbus, OH (43202)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $325,819
Avg Monthly Rent $1,518
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,113
% Renters 69.0%

Market Analysis: 43202 Columbus

Investors eyeing 43202 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $326K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 43202 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 43202's metrics run below Franklin County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 43202 ZIP's population of 20,059 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Columbus's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 43202. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Columbus:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 51/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,518/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Columbus, OH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
32 days
Average time to sell
Average
14.2%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Columbus, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 43202

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$81,632/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $268,414 $1,380 3.7% +6.2% $134,207
3BR $349,336 $1,650 3.4% +2.2% $116,445
4BR $387,324 $1,860 3.5% +2.0% $96,831
5BR $408,162 +1.5% $81,632

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$379K$333K$287K$241K$195K$148KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,736$1,613$1,489$1,365$1,241$1,118Jun 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 43202 Compare?

Metric 43202 Columbus Columbus, OH Ohio
Home Value $325,819 $168,924 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR N/A 3.5% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,518 $1,426 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 43202? Click to expand

69% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 43202 (Columbus, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Franklin County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Associa RPM provides comprehensive HOA and condominium management services in the greater Columbus, Dublin, Cincinnati, and Dayton areas of Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Heart & Home Property Management offers services for single-family homes and multi-family properties in Columbus, including rentals and owner support. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
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SBS Property Management provides management, maintenance, inspections, finances, and communications for Condominium and Homeowner Associations across Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
-0.2%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Columbus, OH metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
0/2
32 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $325,819
Monthly Rent $1,518
Price-to-Rent 17.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 3.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR -3.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -9.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.2%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 43202

Population: 20,059

💰 Median Household Income
$65,113
This area
$65,113
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
69.0%
This area
69.0%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
64.8%
This area
64.8%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.1 years
This area
29.1 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.1%
Asian 10.5%
Other/Mixed 6.7%
Black/African American 4.6%
Hispanic/Latino 2.9%
👶 Under 18
11.1%
This area
11.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
5.3%
This area
5.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 43202

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.6:1 Avg Class Size
$22,434 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Dominion Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
726 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A Very Good

Indianola Informal K-8 School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
713 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A Very Good

Clinton Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Westwood Preparatory Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
📍 1183 Essex Ave, Columbus
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Grandview Heights High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1587 W 3rd Ave, Columbus
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$38,243 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Huy/A.G. Bell Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1545 Huy Rd, Columbus
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Medina Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1425 Huy Rd, Columbus
👥
405 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ridgeview Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 4241 Rudy Rd, Columbus
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$22,434 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 9,181 Off-Campus Students
B+
Ohio State University-Main Campus
60,046 students · 1.5 mi
C+
Adult and Community Education-Hudson
37 students · 1.9 mi
C
The Spa School
117 students · 3.1 mi
D
Aveda Institute-Columbus
242 students · 3.3 mi
C
Columbus State Community College
26,663 students · 3.9 mi
C
Columbus College of Art & Design
918 students · 4.0 mi
C
Ohio Dominican University
1,258 students · 4.3 mi
C+
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
712 students · 4.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,181 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tenant base reliable in Columbus, OH?

Tenant demand in Columbus, OH is solid. The local workforce $1,518/mo rents across most rental classes.

Does Columbus, OH make sense for an investment property?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Columbus, OH ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $326K and rents of $1,518/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the typical home price in Columbus, OH?

Homes in Columbus, OH typically sell near $326K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

What type of investing works in Columbus, OH?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Columbus, OH best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $326K price point.

Is rental property easy to operate in Columbus, OH?

The landlord environment in Columbus, OH is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 43202 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 43202 ranks in Columbus, OH

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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