Real Estate Investing in Willow Wood, Ohio (45696)

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

Lawrence County • Population: 951 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45696 (Willow Wood, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 30.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $34,706 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Willow Wood, OH (45696)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $148,983
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $34,706
% Renters 22.0%

Market Analysis: 45696 Willow Wood

The 45696 ZIP in Willow Wood, OH is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $149K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 45696 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 45696 among OH's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The 45696 ZIP's population of 951 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 45696 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 Willow Wood:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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 45696

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$55,400/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $110,800 $1,020 6.6% +6.5% $55,400
3BR $181,369 $1,310 5.2% +6.4% $60,456

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$158K$140K$122K$104K$86K$68KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45696 Compare?

Metric 45696 Willow Wood Ohio
Home Value $148,983 $148,983 $237,530
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% 7.4%
Avg Rent $918 $918 -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 45696? 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 45696 (Willow Wood, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $148,983
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 13.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
30.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45696

Population: 951

💰 Median Household Income
$34,706
This area
$34,706
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.0%
This area
22.0%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.4 years
This area
49.4 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.2%
This area
30.2%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 5.2%
👶 Under 18
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.7%
This area
32.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 45696

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,424 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Symmes Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
6.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 Per Student
A Very Good

Symmes Valley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
577 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 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 2,473 Off-Campus Students
C+
Collins Career Technical Center
427 students · 7.8 mi
C+
Marshall University
11,027 students · 12.6 mi
D
Huntington Junior College
209 students · 12.7 mi
C
Ohio University-Southern Campus
1,639 students · 12.8 mi
C+
Elite Welding Academy South Point
17 students · 13.3 mi
C
Tri-State Bible College
20 students · 14.1 mi
C+
Ashland Community and Technical College
2,559 students · 14.2 mi
C+
Cabell County Career Technology Center
26 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,473 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in Willow Wood, OH?

Rents in Willow Wood, OH run near $918/mo. Compared with median home prices of $149K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Willow Wood, OH?

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

Should investors consider Willow Wood, OH?

Willow Wood, OH shows an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $149K and average rents around $918/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

Are renters plentiful in Willow Wood, OH?

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

What strategy should investors use in Willow Wood, OH?

Most investors in Willow Wood, OH run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 45696 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 45696 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 45696 ranks in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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