Real Estate Investing in The Plains, Ohio (45780)

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

Athens County • Population: 2,653 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 45780 (The Plains, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in The Plains, OH (45780)?

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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 $185,144
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,125
% Renters 46.0%

Market Analysis: 45780 The Plains

In practical terms, ZIP 45780 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $185K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 45780 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within OH, ZIP 45780 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Athens County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

A durable renter share of 46% in 45780 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 45780 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 The Plains:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/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
Athens, OH Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Athens, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 45780

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$72,168/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $152,806 $1,060 5.0% +7.2% $76,403
3BR $216,504 $1,300 4.3% +6.9% $72,168

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$193K$173K$154K$135K$115K$96KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 45780 Compare?

Metric 45780 The Plains Athens, OH Ohio
Home Value $185,144 $185,144 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $954 $954 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 45780? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 45780 (The Plains, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Athens, 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 $185,144
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 16.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
9.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 45780

Population: 2,653

💰 Median Household Income
$53,125
This area
$53,125
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.0%
This area
46.0%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.7%
This area
33.7%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
58.5 years
This area
58.5 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.1%
Other/Mixed 5.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
9.5%
This area
9.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
36.9%
This area
36.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.0%
This area
18.0%
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 45780

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$25,244 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Athens High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
693 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,244 Per Student
A Very Good

The Plains Intermediate School

📚 04 – 06 School
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,244 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

3 Nearby 422 Off-Campus Students
C+
Ohio University-Main Campus
24,937 students · 3.4 mi
C+
Tri-County Adult Career Center
24 students · 6.1 mi
C
Hocking College
1,846 students · 6.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical rental rate in The Plains, OH?

Expect rents around $954/mo per month in The Plains, OH. With home values at $185K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How strong is tenant demand in The Plains, OH?

Expect a solid tenant pool in The Plains, OH. The rental market absorbs $954/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Does house hacking make sense in The Plains, OH?

For house hackers, The Plains, OH is a challenging. The $954/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $185K property.

What is it like being a landlord in The Plains, OH?

The landlord environment in The Plains, OH is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Where do home prices stand in The Plains, OH?

Typical homes in The Plains, OH go for around $185K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

You know 45780 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 45780 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 45780 ranks in Athens, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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