Real Estate Investing in Eaton, Ohio (45320)

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

Preble County • Population: 15,402 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45320 (Eaton, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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 Eaton, OH (45320)?

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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 $255,732
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,828
% Renters 22.9%

Market Analysis: 45320 Eaton

ZIP 45320 inside Preble County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $256K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 45320 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 45320 sits on the difficult end of the OH spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 45320 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Eaton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 45320

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$75,076/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $160,408 $970 4.4% +8.0% $80,204
3BR $225,229 $1,300 4.2% +8.2% $75,076
4BR $307,461 $1,420 3.3% +7.9% $76,865
5BR $389,341 +7.8% $77,868

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$267K$234K$201K$167K$134K$101KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45320 Compare?

Metric 45320 Eaton Ohio
Home Value $255,732 $255,732 $237,530
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 7.5% 7.4%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 45320? 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 45320 (Eaton, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $255,732
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 24.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45320

Population: 15,402

💰 Median Household Income
$64,828
This area
$64,828
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.9%
This area
22.9%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.7 years
This area
43.7 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Black/African American 0.8%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
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 45320

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,097 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Hollingsworth East Elementary School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Eaton High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
549 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Eaton Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
444 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B Good

William Bruce Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
437 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 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 1,552 Off-Campus Students
C
PJ's College of Cosmetology-Richmond
71 students · 10.1 mi
C
Bethany Theological Seminary
66 students · 13.0 mi
C+
Earlham College
696 students · 13.1 mi
C
Indiana University-East
2,985 students · 13.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,552 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Eaton, OH?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Eaton, OH best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $256K price point.

Are there empty rentals in Eaton, OH?

Expect elevated vacancy in Eaton, OH. Rents at $873/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What is it like being a landlord in Eaton, OH?

Rental owners in Eaton, OH deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Can I house hack in Eaton, OH?

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

What do rentals go for in Eaton, OH?

Rent in Eaton, OH is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $256K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

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