Real Estate Investing in Wooster, Ohio (44691)

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

Wayne County • Population: 44,390 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44691 (Wooster, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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.

What’s happening in Wooster, OH (44691)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $268,064
Avg Monthly Rent $1,348
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,578
% Renters 29.4%

Market Analysis: 44691 Wooster

The 44691 ZIP covers a section of Wooster that demands careful diligence. Prices near $268K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 44691 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 44691 and stronger Wooster ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 44691 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 44691 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Wooster:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,348/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 44691

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$81,861/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $196,466 $1,080 4.0% +10.1% $98,233
3BR $259,091 $1,320 3.7% +9.3% $86,364
4BR $346,975 $1,550 3.2% +9.8% $86,744
5BR $409,307 +9.2% $81,861

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$355K$303K$252K$200K$149K$97KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,631$1,534$1,437$1,341$1,244$1,147Feb 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44691 Compare?

Metric 44691 Wooster Wooster, OH Ohio
Home Value $268,064 $268,064 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.8% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,348 $1,348 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44691? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44691 (Wooster, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.8%
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 $268,064
Monthly Rent $1,348
Price-to-Rent 16.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
6.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44691

Population: 44,390

💰 Median Household Income
$69,578
This area
$69,578
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.4%
This area
29.4%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.0%
This area
30.0%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.1 years
This area
41.1 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.2%
Other/Mixed 4.7%
Black/African American 2.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
19.9%
This area
19.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
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 44691

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
19.2:1 Avg Class Size
$15,750 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cornerstone Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
349 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 Per Student
A Very Good

Triway High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,697 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kean Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Wooster Twp Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,697 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Melrose Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
244 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parkview Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
268 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 Per Student
B Good

Edgewood Middle School

📚 05 – 07 School
👥
738 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 Per Student
B Good

Triway Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,697 Per Student
B Good

Wooster High School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
1,165 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 Per Student
C Below Average

Wooster Littlest Generals Preschool

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
142 Students
👨‍🏫
40.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,773 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

4 Nearby 433 Off-Campus Students
C+
The College of Wooster
1,876 students · 2.4 mi
C
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
462 students · 3.7 mi
C+
Wayne County Schools Career Center
90 students · 7.0 mi
D
University of Akron Wayne College
1,361 students · 10.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Wooster, OH?

Wooster, OH sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader OH rental market.

Is the tenant base reliable in Wooster, OH?

Working renters make up the core of the Wooster, OH tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is Wooster, OH a friendly market for rental owners?

Landlord-friendliness in Wooster, OH is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is Wooster, OH a good market for FHA house hackers?

For house hackers, Wooster, OH is a challenging. The $1,348/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $268K property.

Which investment style suits Wooster, OH?

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

You know 44691 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 44691 ranks in Wooster, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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