Real Estate Investing in Barberton, Ohio (44203)

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

Summit County • Population: 38,705 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 44203 (Barberton, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

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

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

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Barberton, OH (44203)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $187,275
Avg Monthly Rent $1,323
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,589
% Renters 30.0%

Market Analysis: 44203 Barberton

On balance, ZIP 44203 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $187K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 44203 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Looking more closely, 44203 offers a low basis, the region around Barberton has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 44203 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 44203 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 Barberton:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,323/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
Akron, 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 Akron, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44203

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$56,722/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $86,969 $880 7.3% +8.5% $86,969
2BR $132,659 $1,130 6.1% +8.8% $66,330
3BR $185,488 $1,380 5.4% +7.7% $61,829
4BR $256,965 $1,500 4.2% +7.7% $64,241
5BR $283,608 +7.7% $56,722

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$196K$171K$145K$120K$95K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,455$1,410$1,365$1,320$1,275$1,230Nov 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44203 Compare?

Metric 44203 Barberton Akron, OH Ohio
Home Value $187,275 $187,275 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,323 $1,323 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.5% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44203? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44203 (Barberton, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 44203 (Barberton, OH)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Akron, OH metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
0/2
28 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $187,275
Monthly Rent $1,323
Price-to-Rent 11.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.5%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 11.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -9.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
7.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44203

Population: 38,705

💰 Median Household Income
$57,589
This area
$57,589
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.0%
This area
30.0%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.1%
This area
21.1%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.6%
Black/African American 6.8%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
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 44203

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,680 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Barberton Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
776 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,062 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Barberton Primary School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
763 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,062 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Norton Primary Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
216 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,607 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Barberton High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,188 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,062 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Norton Elementary School

📚 01 – 04 Elementary
👥
627 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,607 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Norton High School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
715 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,607 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Norton Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
658 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,607 Per Student
B Good

Barberton Intermediate School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
695 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,062 Per Student
C+ Average

Barberton Preschool

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
206 Students
👨‍🏫
29.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,062 Per Student
C+ Average

Barberton Virtual Academy

📚 02 – 08 School Limited Data
👥
6 Students
💰
$16,062 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 4,538 Off-Campus Students
C
Gerbers Akron Beauty School
59 students · 7.0 mi
D
Herzing University-Akron
381 students · 7.1 mi
C+
University of Akron Main Campus
13,518 students · 7.2 mi
C
Hamrick School
89 students · 9.5 mi
C
Portage Lakes Career Center
217 students · 9.8 mi
F
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls
489 students · 11.9 mi
D
University of Akron Wayne College
1,361 students · 13.8 mi
C
Stark State College
9,616 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,538 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Barberton, OH a good investment right now?

Barberton, OH reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $187K and average rents around $1,323/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

How much do tenants pay in Barberton, OH?

Average rent in Barberton, OH is approximately $1,323/mo per month. Against $187K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the tenant pool like in Barberton, OH?

Barberton, OH offers a stable renter base at the $1,323/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What type of investing works in Barberton, OH?

Barberton, OH investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($187K prices, $1,323/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How much does a house cost in Barberton, OH?

Barberton, OH home values average about $187K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,323/mo in monthly income.

You know 44203 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 44203 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 44203 ranks in Akron, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 44203 (Barberton)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 44203 (Barberton, OH).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.