Real Estate Investing in Cleveland, Ohio (44102)

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

Cuyahoga County • Population: 40,178 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44102 (Cleveland, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (81/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 28.2% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.0% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $38,387 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Cleveland, OH (44102)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $130,961
Avg Monthly Rent $1,318
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $38,387
% Renters 66.7%

Market Analysis: 44102 Cleveland

The 44102 ZIP reports an healthy value-add profile — below-median pricing at $131K, a renter base of 67%, and room for operational improvement.

The worth a close look for angle here is forced equity, not market equity. ZIP 44102 rewards investors who can execute on scope, timeline, and tenant turnover.

Relative to OH, 44102 reads as a working-capital ZIP — prices below average, renter share elevated at 67%, and room for operator-led upside.

The resident base in 44102 runs younger and more tenure-renter than county averages. 67% of 40,178 households lease, which is the demand source for post-rehab rent lifts.

Value-add plays pencil in 44102 when three things line up: a sub-median purchase, a realistic rehab budget, and a post-rehab rent comp that stands up. All three are present in this ZIP.

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 Cleveland:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,318/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
Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
28 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.2%
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 Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44102

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
8.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$31,704/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $80,155 $940 8.4% +8.5% $80,155
2BR $152,581 $1,130 5.3% +6.8% $76,291
3BR $122,328 $1,450 8.5% +8.2% $40,776
4BR $137,266 $1,550 8.1% +7.0% $34,316
5BR $158,519 +6.0% $31,704

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$152K$130K$108K$86K$64K$43KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,402$1,273$1,143$1,013$884$754Mar 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44102 Compare?

Metric 44102 Cleveland Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $130,961 $85,662 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 2.5% 3.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,318 $1,306 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.9% 8.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44102? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,318/mo on homes averaging $130,961 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

67% 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 44102 (Cleveland, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Cuyahoga County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Cleveland Property Management Group is a residential property manager in Northeast Ohio, assisting with property purchase, portfolio analysis, and full-service management. summary from their website

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Aspire Real Estate helps sell homes quickly. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
7.9%
Good
5yr Growth
+2.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $130,961
Monthly Rent $1,318
Price-to-Rent 8.3:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.1%
Cap Rate 7.9%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 7.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (7.9%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
15.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44102

Population: 40,178

💰 Median Household Income
$38,387
This area
$38,387
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
66.7%
This area
66.7%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.2%
This area
23.2%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.6 years
This area
34.6 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.0%
Other/Mixed 24.1%
Black/African American 17.4%
Hispanic/Latino 16.0%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.2%
This area
11.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
28.2%
This area
28.2%
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 44102

B Avg School Grade
17 Schools
26.8:1 Avg Class Size
$19,157 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Halle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
430 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Marion C Seltzer Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
359 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Max S Hayes High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
611 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Louisa May Alcott Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Almira

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Clark School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
627 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Waverly Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
801 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
B Good

Northwest School of the Arts

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
255 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,787 Per Student
C+ Average

Lake Erie International High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
142 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,289 Per Student
C+ Average

Menlo Park Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$9,552 Per Student
C+ Average

Village Preparatory School Willard

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
491 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,478 Per Student
D Needs Improvement
👥
203 Students
👨‍🏫
67.7:1 Class Size
💰
$9,290 Per Student
D Needs Improvement
👥
119 Students
👨‍🏫
59.5:1 Class Size
💰
$10,665 Per Student
D Needs Improvement
👥
38 Students
👨‍🏫
76.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,757 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 9,386 Off-Campus Students
D
The North Coast College
53 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College
41 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Meryma'at Barber College
51 students · 2.4 mi
C+
Cuyahoga Community College District
17,407 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Cleveland State University
14,117 students · 3.8 mi
D
Valley College-Cleveland
787 students · 3.9 mi
C
Ohio Technical College
331 students · 5.1 mi
D
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
522 students · 5.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,386 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cleveland, OH a smart market for rental property?

Cleveland, OH scores 4.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $131K and rents near $1,318/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the smart move for investors in Cleveland, OH?

Cleveland, OH investors pursuing value-add and BRRRR deals. The underlying economics ($131K prices, $1,318/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Are there BRRRR deals in Cleveland, OH?

BRRRR in Cleveland, OH is a strong. The interplay of $131K values and $1,318/mo rents creates reasonable refinance conditions.

Does Cleveland, OH meet the 1% rule for rental property?

Cleveland, OH delivers a 1.01% rent-to-price ratio on average. Investors targeting the 1% rule will find solid opportunities.

How strong are rents in Cleveland, OH?

Rental rates in Cleveland, OH average $1,318/mo. Tenant demand and $131K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 44102 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44102 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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