Real Estate Investing in Cardington, Ohio (43321)

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

Morrow County • Population: 357 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 43321 (Cardington, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.0% CAGR).

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Cardington, OH (43321)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $186,369
Avg Monthly Rent $990
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,250
% Renters 22.5%

Market Analysis: 43321 Cardington

ZIP 43321 inside Morrow County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $186K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 43321 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 43321 and stronger Cardington ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 43321 ZIP's population of 357 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 43321 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Cardington:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $990/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$204K$179K$155K$130K$106K$82KJul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 43321 Compare?

Metric 43321 Cardington Columbus, OH Ohio
Home Value $186,369 $233,639 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 1.0% 1.8% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $990 $1,017 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 43321? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 43321 (Cardington, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.0%
Slow

📉 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 $186,369
Monthly Rent $990
Price-to-Rent 15.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 5.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
11.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 43321

Population: 357

💰 Median Household Income
$56,250
This area
$56,250
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.5%
This area
22.5%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.3%
This area
13.3%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.6%
This area
17.6%
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 43321

Nearby Schools (4 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Cardington-Lincoln High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 349 Chesterville Ave, Cardington
👥
263 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,525 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cardington-Lincoln Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 349 Chesterville Ave, Cardington
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,525 Per Student
B Good

Cardington-Lincoln Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 121 Nichols St, Cardington
👥
405 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,525 Per Student
C+ Average

Tomorrow Center

📚 08 – 12 High School Charter
📍 3700 County Road 168, Cardington
👥
88 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,286 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Cardington, OH?

Expect median prices around $186K in Cardington, OH. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been reliable.

Does Cardington, OH favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Cardington, OH deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Cardington, OH?

For Cardington, OH, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Does house hacking work in Cardington, OH?

House hacking in Cardington, OH is reasonable to execute. Prices around $186K and rents of $990/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What kind of tenants rent in Cardington, OH?

Tenant quality in Cardington, OH ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $990/mo.

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How 43321 ranks in Columbus, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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