Real Estate Investing in Cleveland Heights, Ohio (44121)

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

Cuyahoga County • Population: 32,668 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44121 (Cleveland Heights, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Cleveland Heights, OH (44121)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $176,956
Avg Monthly Rent $1,600
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,606
% Renters 28.9%

Market Analysis: 44121 Cleveland Heights

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 44121 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $177K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 44121 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within OH, ZIP 44121 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cuyahoga County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

The 44121 ZIP's population of 32,668 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 44121 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 Cleveland Heights:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 83/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,600/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
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 44121

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
7.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$49,518/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $138,583 $1,420 7.4% +10.3% $69,292
3BR $169,506 $1,830 7.8% +8.4% $56,502
4BR $202,293 $1,950 6.9% +8.0% $50,573
5BR $247,589 +7.8% $49,518

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$189K$164K$140K$115K$91K$67KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,659$1,572$1,485$1,398$1,311$1,224Jan 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44121 Compare?

Metric 44121 Cleveland Heights Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $176,956 $176,956 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,600 $1,600 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.1% 7.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44121? 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 44121 (Cleveland Heights, 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
Good
Cap Rate
7.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $176,956
Monthly Rent $1,600
Price-to-Rent 9.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.9%
Cap Rate 7.1%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.1%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
8.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44121

Population: 32,668

💰 Median Household Income
$72,606
This area
$72,606
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.9%
This area
28.9%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.4%
This area
41.4%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.7 years
This area
36.7 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 54.8%
White 37.5%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Asian 2.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.4%
This area
16.4%
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 44121

A+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$22,956 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Monticello Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rowland Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,455 Per Student
A Very Good

Greenview Upper Elementary School

📚 04 – 06 School
👥
658 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,455 Per Student
A Very Good

Noble Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A Very Good

Adrian Elementary School

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,455 Per Student
A Very Good

Oxford Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
279 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Shaw High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 15320 Euclid Ave, East Cleveland
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$35,708 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Canterbury Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2530 Canterbury Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fairfax Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 3150 Fairfax Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Gearity Professional Development School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2323 Wrenford Rd, University Hts
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Boulevard Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1749 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 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
C
Lakewood University
101 students · 1.5 mi
C
Notre Dame College
1,446 students · 1.6 mi
C+
John Carroll University
2,773 students · 2.5 mi
C+
Cleveland Institute of Art
566 students · 3.8 mi
C
Ursuline College
923 students · 4.0 mi
B
Cleveland Institute of Music
350 students · 4.1 mi
B+
Case Western Reserve University
12,266 students · 4.2 mi
D
LaBarberia Institute of Hair
213 students · 4.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How qualified is the tenant pool in Cleveland Heights, OH?

Cleveland Heights, OH offers a steady renter base at the $1,600/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is Cleveland Heights, OH a smart market for rental property?

Investors tracking Cleveland Heights, OH will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $177K median home values and $1,600/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting measured returns.

What price range are homes in Cleveland Heights, OH?

Typical homes in Cleveland Heights, OH go for around $177K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% steady price movement.

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

The best-fit strategy in Cleveland Heights, OH is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

How viable is house hacking in Cleveland Heights, OH?

House hacking works a challenging in Cleveland Heights, OH. Rents of $1,600/mo against $177K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 44121 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44121 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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