Columbus, OH real estate investing data
Updated 2026-11-09 · Official Census, HUD, NAIC and FHFA figures
Summary
In Franklin County, the county around Columbus, the median home value is $265,700, median rent is $1,233 a month and the effective property tax rate is 1.55%. A $250,000 purchase at that rate means about $3,875 a year in property tax. Homeowners insurance averages $1,116 a year across Ohio.
- Median home value
- $265,700
- Median rent / month
- $1,233
- Property tax rate
- 1.55%
- Gross rent yield
- 5.57%
How does Columbus compare with the rest of Ohio?
Home values in Franklin County are 54% above the median Ohio county ($173,050). Rent is 48% above the state median ($833). The median county's property tax rate is 1.08%, against 1.55% here. Gross yield is a year of median rent divided by median home value. It leaves out all costs, so use it only to compare areas.
Columbus fair market rent by size
| Studio | $1,258 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,346 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,602 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,909 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,172 |
Columbus home price growth
| Latest year | 3.2% |
|---|---|
| 5 years, per year | 8.6% |
| 10 years, per year | 7.5% |
Is there a transfer tax in Columbus?
Mandatory conveyance fee of $0.10 per $100 of value ($1 minimum) charged by county auditors under state statute ORC 319.54(G)(3); no separate state-retained tax. Counties may add a permissive real property transfer tax of up to $0.30 per $100 (ORC 322.02), imposed on the grantor. Ohio Rev. Code 319.54 and 322.02
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in Columbus?
The effective rate in Franklin County is 1.55%, based on median taxes paid and median home value in the Census ACS (2019-2023). Your bill may differ, especially if a purchase triggers a reassessment.
What is fair market rent in Columbus?
HUD's 2027 Fair Market Rent for Franklin County is $1,602 for two bedrooms and $1,909 for three. HUD sets these near the 40th percentile and includes utilities, so check them against nearby listings.
How much have home prices risen in Columbus?
FHFA's index shows Franklin County prices rising 8.6% a year over the five years to 2025 and 7.5% a year over ten. Those years were unusually strong, so a lower figure is safer in a forecast.
Where these numbers come from
All figures are for Franklin County as a whole, which can differ from the city and from any one neighborhood. Values, rents and taxes are from the Census ACS 2019-2023. Fair Market Rents are HUD 2027. Insurance is the NAIC 2023 Ohio average. Price growth is FHFA's developmental county index through 2025. Estimates only, not financial advice.