Ohio

Ranked #13 of 51 for housing affordability

70Affordable

Median Home Price

๐Ÿ 

$220K

3.25x income

Median Rent

๐Ÿ”‘

$1,014

29.5% rent-burdened

Median Income

๐Ÿ’ฐ

$68K

Population: 11,756,058

Homeownership

๐Ÿก

67.0%

10,655 experiencing homelessness

Housing Shortage

๐Ÿ“‰

75,000

units needed

Building Permits (2024)

๐Ÿ”จ

31,411

Price-to-Income

๐Ÿ“Š

3.25x

Severe Rent Burden

โš ๏ธ

14.5%

paying >50% of income

Rent Burden Breakdown

vs. National Average

House Price Index (2000โ€“2025)

FHFA All-Transactions HPI ยท Base = 100 (1980s)

Since 2019: +66.1%Since 2010: +109%Since 2000: +127.6%

HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026)

Maximum rent HUD considers fair for Section 8 voucher holders

Studio
$899/mo
1 Bedroom
$979/mo
2 Bedroom
$1,219/mo
3 Bedroom
$1,546/mo
4 Bedroom
$1,701/mo

FMR ($1219) is above the state median rent ($1014) โ€” vouchers cover typical rents.

Metros in Ohio

MetroScoreHome PriceRentIncomeRent Burden
Cincinnati66$270K$1,101$78K29.0%
Columbus58$195K$998$55K30.5%
Cleveland72$217K$1,032$68K31.5%
Dayton75$210K$1,027$67K29.5%
Akron89$216K$1,029$70K25.1%
Toledo91$185K$927$63K21.6%
Youngstown-Warren91$150K$788$51K24.2%
Canton-Massillon90$189K$887$64K18.4%
Sandusky88$207K$886$65K25.7%
Mansfield89$177K$808$57K15.8%
Lima93$180K$941$67K20.3%

Market Trends

Homeownership Rate

67.0%

Rent-to-Income Ratio

18.0%

of gross income spent on rent

Total Households

4,917,309

Owner-Occupied

3,300,279

Renter-Occupied

1,617,030

Homelessness

Latest Count (2024)

11,759

1-Year Change

+3.3%

10-Year Trend (2015โ€“2024)

+5.2%

11,182 โ†’ 11,759

Housing Policies

low-income housing tax creditscommunity reinvestment areashousing trust fund

Construction Activity

Total Permits (2024)

31,411

2.2% of national total

Single-Family

17,791

57% of state permits

Multi-Family

13,620

43% of state permits

SF 57%
MF 43%

Mortgage Access

National HMDA data โ€” mortgage denial rates by race/ethnicity

Denial Rates by Race

Black
26.8%
Hispanic
21.4%
Native American
24.5%
Asian
12.8%
White
11.2%

Top Denial Reasons

Debt-to-Income Ratio32%
Credit History28%
Insufficient Collateral15%
Incomplete Application12%
Insufficient Cash8%

Housing Shortage

State Shortage

75,000

units needed

National Shortage

7,300,000

1.0% of national total

Affordable Units per 100 ELI Renters

35

nationally (NLIHC)

National Shortage by Unit Type

45%

Single-Family

18%

Small Multi (2-4)

22%

Medium Multi (5-49)

15%

Large Multi (50+)

Rent Burden Detail

Ohio burden rates with national demographic breakdown

Cost-Burdened Renters

29.5%

paying >30% of income

Severely Burdened

14.5%

paying >50% of income

Households >30% Burden

360,207

Households >35% Burden

113,123

National Burden by Income

<$15K
83%
$15-30K
78%
$30-45K
55%
$45-75K
27%
$75K+
8%
Severe (>50%) Moderate (30-50%)

National Burden by Race

Black
55%
Hispanic
52%
Asian
47%
White
43%
Other
49%