Is Hamilton County, OH good for real estate investing?

Hamilton County has an investment score of 62/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #316 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Hamilton?

The rent-to-price ratio in Hamilton County is 6.61% annually, which ranks in the 66th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Hamilton?

The median home price in Hamilton County is $271,991. This ranks #627 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Hamilton?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Hamilton County would generate negative cash flow of $452/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Hamilton County

OhioPopulation: 827,671

/100

Hold

#316 of 1,000 counties

#58 in Ohio (88 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated August 31, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$271,991

Median Home Price

19% above national median

$1,499/mo

Median Rent

3% above national median

6.61%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 34% nationally

-$452

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Deep-dive analysis

Rent vs Buy

Break-even math + market-specific verdict for buying vs renting

Investment Analysis

Investor thesis, where to buy by profile, forward catalysts

Cap Rates

Gross + net yield by sub-market, compression outlook

Rental Prices

Rent trends, affordability, forecast for renters and landlords

House Hack

Duplex / ADU / fourplex strategies with real numbers

Scenario comparison

Same $1,499/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$203,993	-$95/mo	5.7%	-2.4%
Median typical MLS deal	$271,991	-$452/mo	4.3%	-8.7%
125% of median newer / premium	$339,988	-$808/mo	3.4%	-12.4%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$271,991

Down Payment (20%)$54,398

Loan Amount$217,593

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,499

Monthly P&I-$1,426

Est. Expenses (35%)-$525

Net Cash Flow-$452/mo

4.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-8.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.61%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

62/100

Cash Flow(30%)

66/100

Based on 6.61% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

61/100

Based on 1.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

72/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$452/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

827,671

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield

Skip if

−You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
ColumbianaOH	64	$153,705	$836	6.53%	Buy	View
ClermontOH	64	$316,533	$1,534	5.82%	Buy	View
MuskingumOH	63	$202,550	$1,075	6.37%	Buy	View
WarrenOH	63	$395,975	$1,935	5.86%	Buy	View
CurrentHamiltonOH	62	$271,991	$1,499	6.61%	Buy
VintonOH	61	$172,686	Est. pending	—	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

HoldHamilton scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $452/mo at current rates. Consider house hacking, value-add, or all-cash; otherwise a worse score with positive cash flow may be the better deal.

Hamilton County in Ohio scores 62/100, ranking #316 of 1,000 US counties (top 40%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $452/month; the 6.61% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-452/mo

Cap Rate

4.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-8.7%

Related markets

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Head-to-head comparisons

All counties in Ohio →

Rent vs buy in Ohio cities

Rent vs buy in Columbus, OHMedian $288,459 · rent $1,478/mo Rent vs buy in Cleveland, OHMedian $211,436 · rent $1,379/mo Rent vs buy in Cincinnati, OHMedian $262,214 · rent $1,516/mo Rent vs buy in Toledo, OHMedian $169,370 · rent $1,105/mo Rent vs buy in Dayton, OHMedian $195,315 · rent $1,244/mo All Ohio citiesFull rent-vs-buy directory for the state

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