Real Estate Investing in Creston, Ohio (44217)

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

Wayne County • Population: 3,633 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 44217 (Creston, 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 (47/100)

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.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Creston, OH (44217)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $260,454
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,011
% Renters 10.3%

Market Analysis: 44217 Creston

This part of Wayne County is not an easy win. The 44217 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 44217 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $260K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 44217 among OH's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 44217 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Creston's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 44217. 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 Creston:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Wooster, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.7%
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 Wooster, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44217

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+10.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$74,657/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $164,497 $1,020 4.5% +9.8% $82,248
3BR $265,428 $1,250 3.4% +9.6% $88,476
4BR $298,627 $1,460 3.5% +10.4% $74,657

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$296K$256K$216K$176K$136K$96KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44217 Compare?

Metric 44217 Creston Wooster, OH Ohio
Home Value $260,454 $260,454 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 8.3% 8.3% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44217? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44217 (Creston, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Wooster, OH metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $260,454
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 23.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 11.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
3.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44217

Population: 3,633

💰 Median Household Income
$64,011
This area
$64,011
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.3%
This area
10.3%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.3 years
This area
42.3 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.8%
Other/Mixed 2.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 44217

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
18.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,224 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Norwayne High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,224 Per Student
B Good

Norwayne Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
313 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,224 Per Student
B Good

Norwayne Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
567 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,224 Per Student
C+ Average

Norwayne Online School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$13,224 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

5 Nearby 459 Off-Campus Students
C+
Wayne County Schools Career Center
90 students · 6.8 mi
D
University of Akron Wayne College
1,361 students · 9.2 mi
C+
The College of Wooster
1,876 students · 10.1 mi
C
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
462 students · 12.5 mi
C+
Medina County Career Center
52 students · 13.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Creston, OH stack up for property investment?

Creston, OH sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $260K and average rents around $918/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

What strategy should investors use in Creston, OH?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Creston, OH. With home values at $260K and rents near $918/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

How deep is the rental pool in Creston, OH?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Creston, OH. The rental market absorbs $918/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is vacancy a concern in Creston, OH?

Expect elevated vacancy in Creston, OH. Rents at $918/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Does house hacking work in Creston, OH?

House hacking in Creston, OH is reasonable to execute. Prices around $260K and rents of $918/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 44217 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44217 ranks in Wooster, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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