Best Places to Buy Rental Property in Ohio (2026)
We ranked all 51 Ohio counties that have both a median home price and a median rent, ordered by the cap rate a median-priced rental would produce. Belmont County leads at 5.7%, with a median price of $136,428.
Ohio counties ranked by cap rate
| # | Market | Cap rate | Median price | Median rent | Cash flow | Analyze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belmont County, OH | 5.7% | $136,428 | $993 | -$70 | Run numbers |
| 2 | Erie County, OH | 5.4% | $242,536 | $1,689 | -$174 | Run numbers |
| 3 | Marion County, OH | 5.2% | $186,484 | $1,250 | -$165 | Run numbers |
| 4 | Wood County, OH | 5.2% | $246,207 | $1,642 | -$223 | Run numbers |
| 5 | Lucas County, OH | 5.1% | $180,031 | $1,176 | -$180 | Run numbers |
| 6 | Cuyahoga County, OH | 5.1% | $224,958 | $1,465 | -$227 | Run numbers |
| 7 | Montgomery County, OH | 4.9% | $207,254 | $1,300 | -$241 | Run numbers |
| 8 | Trumbull County, OH | 4.8% | $174,237 | $1,075 | -$215 | Run numbers |
| 9 | Mahoning County, OH | 4.8% | $179,433 | $1,104 | -$223 | Run numbers |
| 10 | Allen County, OH | 4.7% | $195,518 | $1,177 | -$260 | Run numbers |
| 11 | Madison County, OH | 4.7% | $322,279 | $1,938 | -$430 | Run numbers |
| 12 | Clark County, OH | 4.6% | $206,268 | $1,213 | -$293 | Run numbers |
| 13 | Jefferson County, OH | 4.6% | $130,195 | $767 | -$184 | Run numbers |
| 14 | Hamilton County, OH | 4.4% | $275,666 | $1,539 | -$445 | Run numbers |
| 15 | Pickaway County, OH | 4.3% | $332,519 | $1,845 | -$544 | Run numbers |
| 16 | Lake County, OH | 4.3% | $253,127 | $1,403 | -$415 | Run numbers |
| 17 | Geauga County, OH | 4.2% | $389,741 | $2,113 | -$670 | Run numbers |
| 18 | Summit County, OH | 4.2% | $232,716 | $1,260 | -$401 | Run numbers |
| 19 | Miami County, OH | 4.2% | $273,782 | $1,458 | -$487 | Run numbers |
| 20 | Licking County, OH | 4.1% | $345,136 | $1,817 | -$628 | Run numbers |
| 21 | Medina County, OH | 4.1% | $353,818 | $1,850 | -$652 | Run numbers |
| 22 | Greene County, OH | 4.1% | $306,546 | $1,599 | -$568 | Run numbers |
| 23 | Lorain County, OH | 4.0% | $266,313 | $1,382 | -$498 | Run numbers |
| 24 | Athens County, OH | 4.0% | $191,326 | $994 | -$357 | Run numbers |
| 25 | Muskingum County, OH | 4.0% | $214,297 | $1,088 | -$416 | Run numbers |
| 26 | Hancock County, OH | 4.0% | $243,529 | $1,233 | -$475 | Run numbers |
| 27 | Stark County, OH | 3.9% | $221,218 | $1,113 | -$436 | Run numbers |
| 28 | Franklin County, OH | 3.9% | $301,340 | $1,510 | -$598 | Run numbers |
| 29 | Knox County, OH | 3.9% | $293,332 | $1,466 | -$585 | Run numbers |
| 30 | Butler County, OH | 3.9% | $320,542 | $1,599 | -$641 | Run numbers |
| 31 | Fairfield County, OH | 3.9% | $370,287 | $1,838 | -$746 | Run numbers |
| 32 | Columbiana County, OH | 3.9% | $166,920 | $829 | -$336 | Run numbers |
| 33 | Ashtabula County, OH | 3.9% | $185,393 | $918 | -$375 | Run numbers |
| 34 | Crawford County, OH | 3.8% | $164,292 | $808 | -$336 | Run numbers |
| 35 | Guernsey County, OH | 3.8% | $166,180 | $800 | -$351 | Run numbers |
| 36 | Portage County, OH | 3.7% | $287,324 | $1,364 | -$620 | Run numbers |
| 37 | Clermont County, OH | 3.7% | $333,547 | $1,580 | -$722 | Run numbers |
| 38 | Wayne County, OH | 3.7% | $267,467 | $1,264 | -$580 | Run numbers |
| 39 | Warren County, OH | 3.7% | $413,538 | $1,950 | -$901 | Run numbers |
| 40 | Richland County, OH | 3.5% | $201,952 | $918 | -$462 | Run numbers |
| 41 | Auglaize County, OH | 3.5% | $246,553 | $1,100 | -$577 | Run numbers |
| 42 | Logan County, OH | 3.4% | $258,347 | $1,135 | -$617 | Run numbers |
| 43 | Clinton County, OH | 3.3% | $260,967 | $1,113 | -$645 | Run numbers |
| 44 | Union County, OH | 3.2% | $419,056 | $1,723 | -$1,077 | Run numbers |
| 45 | Henry County, OH | 3.1% | $218,245 | $871 | -$578 | Run numbers |
| 46 | Brown County, OH | 3.1% | $266,226 | $1,050 | -$713 | Run numbers |
| 47 | Shelby County, OH | 3.0% | $250,326 | $977 | -$677 | Run numbers |
| 48 | Champaign County, OH | 3.0% | $257,368 | $995 | -$703 | Run numbers |
| 49 | Ashland County, OH | 3.0% | $247,488 | $936 | -$689 | Run numbers |
| 50 | Darke County, OH | 2.8% | $222,538 | $794 | -$650 | Run numbers |
Showing the top 50 of 51 ranked counties.
Looking for every county in the state, including those without rent data? Browse the full Ohio market directory.
How this ranking is calculated
We scored 51 counties in Ohio and ranked them by capitalization rate, calculated as annual net operating income divided by median home price. Counties without both a median home price and a median rent are excluded, because cash flow cannot be estimated without both.
Every figure assumes a median-priced home rented at the local median rent, financed with 20 percent down on a 30-year loan at 6.85%, with closing costs at 3 percent of price and operating costs at 35 percent of rent. Operating costs cover taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and management.
These are modeled estimates for comparing markets, not quotes on a specific property. A real deal turns on the individual property, its condition, and the actual rent it can command. Run any market that interests you through the calculator with real numbers before you make an offer.
National rankings
Compare Ohio against the rest of the country.
Best Cash Flow Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated monthly cash flow on a median-priced rental, after mortgage and operating costs.
Highest Cap Rate Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated cap rate on a median-priced rental, using local median rent and a 35 percent operating cost assumption.
Best Cash-on-Cash Return Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated first-year cash-on-cash return on a median-priced rental with 20 percent down.
Best Rental Markets Under $200,000
US counties with a median home price under $200,000, ranked by estimated cap rate on a median-priced rental.
Cheapest Markets With Positive Cash Flow
The lowest-priced US counties where a median-priced rental still covers its mortgage and operating costs.
Best Appreciation Markets for Real Estate Investors
US counties ranked by appreciation score, blending recent home price growth with the risk of an overheated market.
Best Overall Real Estate Markets to Invest In
US counties ranked by overall investment score, blending cash flow, appreciation, stability, and affordability.
Other states
States with fewer than 5 counties reporting both price and rent are omitted, because a ranking that short would not be meaningful.
Run the numbers on a Ohio property
Start from Belmont County median values and replace them with a real listing price and rent to see whether the deal actually works.