Real Estate Investing in Cincinnati, Ohio (45231)

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

Hamilton County • Population: 40,852 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45231 (Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati, OH (45231)?

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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 $217,645
Avg Monthly Rent $1,566
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,741
% Renters 29.4%

Market Analysis: 45231 Cincinnati

Investors eyeing 45231 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $218K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $218K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 45231 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 45231's metrics run below Hamilton County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 45231 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 Cincinnati's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 45231. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.95% as of Sep 17 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Cincinnati:

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 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,566/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
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
29 days
Average time to sell
Fast
12.9%
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 45231

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$65,357/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $149,029 $1,130 5.5% +6.4% $149,029
2BR $174,741 $1,460 6.0% +8.6% $87,371
3BR $202,928 $1,930 6.8% +8.2% $67,643
4BR $261,427 $2,130 5.9% +8.2% $65,357
5BR $327,641 +7.8% $65,528

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$232K$199K$167K$134K$101K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,700$1,570$1,441$1,312$1,183$1,054May 2021Dec 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45231 Compare?

Metric 45231 Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Ohio
Home Value $217,645 $262,113 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 4.8% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,566 $1,409 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 45231? 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 45231 (Cincinnati, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Hamilton County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Associa RPM provides comprehensive HOA and condominium management services in the greater Columbus, Dublin, Cincinnati, and Dayton areas of Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Gaslight Property offers apartments for rent in Clifton, near UC. summary from their website

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

HOA
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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
5.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $217,645
Monthly Rent $1,566
Price-to-Rent 11.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.6%
Cap Rate 5.6%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.6%  |  30yr Rate: 7.0%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (7.0%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.6%). 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
6.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45231

Population: 40,852

💰 Median Household Income
$64,741
This area
$64,741
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.4%
This area
29.4%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.1%
This area
25.1%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.6 years
This area
41.6 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 48.3%
Black/African American 41.0%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Asian 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
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 45231

B+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
19.8:1 Avg Class Size
$19,576 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Mt. Healthy North Elementary School

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,237 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mt Healthy Junior High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
458 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,237 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mt. Healthy South Elementary School

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
595 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,237 Per Student
A Very Good

Finneytown Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
634 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$29,965 Per Student
A Very Good

Finneytown Secondary Campus

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$29,965 Per Student
A Very Good

Mt Healthy High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
842 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,237 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pleasant Run Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
651 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,893 Per Student
B Good

Mt. Healthy Early Learning Center

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,237 Per Student
B Good

Pleasant Run Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
820 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,893 Per Student
C+ Average

Northwest High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
948 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,893 Per Student
C+ Average

Hamilton Cnty Math & Science

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
620 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$9,946 Per Student
C+ Average

MT. HEALTHY VIRTUAL ACADEMY

📚 02 – 12 High School
👥
85 Students
👨‍🏫
42.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,237 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Mt. Healthy Preparatory and Fitness Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
195 Students
👨‍🏫
29.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,507 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
D
Empire Beauty School-Cincinnati
175 students · 3.1 mi
C
Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
104 students · 3.2 mi
C
Cincinnati School of Barbering & Hair Design
48 students · 3.6 mi
C
ATA College-Cincinnati
264 students · 4.7 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Cincinnati
91 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Moler-Pickens Beauty Academy
89 students · 5.3 mi
D
Fortis College-Cincinnati
403 students · 5.6 mi
D
Elite Welding Academy LLC
65 students · 6.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Cincinnati, OH?

Cincinnati, OH home values average about $218K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,566/mo in monthly income.

Does Cincinnati, OH favor landlords or tenants?

OH ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Cincinnati generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What kind of market is Cincinnati, OH for investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Cincinnati, OH reflects its $218K prices and $1,566/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within OH.

Are rents high in Cincinnati, OH?

The typical rental in Cincinnati, OH commands about $1,566/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $218K purchase basis.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Cincinnati, OH?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Cincinnati, OH reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 45231 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 45231 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.

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How 45231 ranks in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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