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City · 914,802 residents · Franklin County, Ohio

Columbus , Ohio

In Columbus, a typical home is worth $252,900 and typical rent is $1,295 a month. Compared with all of Franklin County, the typical home value is 12% lower, typical household income is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $252,900

    12% below the county

    18% above Ohio

    • Columbus
    • Franklin
    • Ohio

  • Typical rent

    $1,295a month

    About the same as the county

    25% above Ohio

    • Columbus
    • Franklin
    • Ohio

  • Typical household income

    $66,082a year

    12% below the county

    7% below Ohio

    • Columbus
    • Franklin
    • Ohio

  • Households that own their home

    44%

    9 points below the county

    23 points below Ohio

    • Columbus
    • Franklin
    • Ohio

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$243,122
1.1% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,471 a month
2.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Columbus is in Franklin County. The FHA loan limit ($591,100 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Franklin County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Columbus apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Columbus has the 12th lowest homeownership rate of the 292 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people (44%).

  2. Nearby, in Whitehall, the typical home value is $159,600: 37% less than in Columbus ($252,900).

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Columbus fell 1.1%; in Ohio, it rose 3.2%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Columbus

What homes there are in Columbus, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Columbus; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 44%, less than in Franklin County (52%).

Year built

In Columbus, half of the homes were built before 1980; in Franklin County, before 1979.

There are fewer big homes in Columbus than in Franklin County: 46% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 53%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 95% of owner-occupied homes in Columbus are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Franklin County ($591,100).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Franklin County is $1,602; about 72% of rents in Columbus are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,599 a month

Franklin County: $1,781 a month

Without a mortgage

$654 a month

Franklin County: $748 a month

Owners with a mortgage

70%

Franklin County: 70%

Owning costs less in Columbus: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,599 a month; in Franklin County, $1,781. Without one, $654.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in Franklin County, the typical home value in Columbus rose 67% since 2015–2019.

Much as in Franklin County, the typical rent in Columbus rose 35% since 2015–2019.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Columbus: typical income rose 23%, against +67% for home values and +35% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureColumbusFranklin CountyOhioUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.6%3.8%4.4%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.0%0.8%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.9%2.5%1.5%3.4%
People per household 2.282.362.372.53
Drive alone 68%68%75%69%
Carpool 8%7%8%9%
Public transit 2%2%1%3%
Walk or bike 3%3%2%3%
Work from home 18%19%13%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Columbus look like those in Franklin County: the rental vacancy rate is 3.6%.

More than one person per room: that is how 2.9% of households in Columbus live, near the figure in Franklin County (2.5%).

A household in Columbus has 2.28 people on average, about the same as in Franklin County (2.36).

The car rules in Columbus: 68% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Columbus?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Columbus, worth $252,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Columbus, which is $66,082 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $93,327 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Franklin County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Columbus. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,852 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,178

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$248,319
Total interest
$357,273
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,271 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,542 a month

  • Tight

    $1,542 to $1,982 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,982 a month

    Your payment · 40%

Compared with the typical household income in Columbus ($66,082 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,178
Principal & interest$1,682
Property tax$278
Home insurance$105
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$112

You need at least $8,852 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Columbus and Franklin County

Columbus is in Franklin County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Columbus's own numbers

Typical home value
$252,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,295
Typical yearly household income
$66,082
Households that own their home
44%
Effective property tax rate
1.32%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Franklin County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$591,100
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,602
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Franklin County.

Everything about Franklin County

Buying

Buying a home in Columbus

A typical home in Columbus is worth $252,900: 12% below the county and 18% above Ohio. With the typical household income in Columbus ($66,082 a year), a typical home costs 3.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Columbus 3.8 years
  • Franklin 3.8 years
  • Ohio 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Franklin County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Franklin County rose 107% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Franklin County.

Period County Ohio U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.2% +4.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +51% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +107% +93% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Columbus next to Franklin County, Ohio and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Columbus $252,900
  • Franklin $288,400
  • Ohio $214,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Columbus $1,295
  • Franklin $1,302
  • Ohio $1,034
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Columbus $66,082
  • Franklin $75,176
  • Ohio $71,389
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Columbus next to Franklin County and Ohio
Measure Columbus Franklin County Ohio U.S.
Typical home value $252,900 $288,400 $214,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,295 $1,302 $1,034 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,082 $75,176 $71,389 $80,734
Households that own their home 44% 53% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,341 $4,244 $2,822 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.32% 1.47% 1.31% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 46% 46% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Franklin County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Columbus

For a typical $252,900 home in Columbus, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Columbus's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,178a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,852
    Cash to close
    $16,439
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $112

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,131a month

    Down payment
    $12,645
    Cash to close
    $20,232
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $120

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,754a month

    Down payment
    $50,580
    Cash to close
    $58,167
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,988a month

    Down payment
    $37,935
    Cash to close
    $45,522
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Columbus and for Franklin County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Columbus

1.32%of the home’s value each year

$3,341 a year for the typical owner in Columbus.

  • Columbus 1.32%
  • Franklin 1.47%
  • Ohio 1.31%

What Ohio publishes Homestead exemption for seniors and people with disabilities (Ohio Department of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in Ohio

Flood risk in Franklin County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Franklin County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
4,209
Of those, with NFIP insurance
17%
County Ohio U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 1.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 17% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Columbus

Typical rent in Columbus is $1,295 a month: about the same as the county. In Columbus, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Franklin County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,602 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $30.81 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Franklin County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,258 $24.19 $50,320
1 bedroom $1,346 $25.88 $53,840
2 bedrooms $1,602 $30.81 $64,080
3 bedrooms $1,909 $36.71 $76,360
4 bedrooms $2,172 $41.77 $86,880

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Columbus

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Columbus has 27 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,000 in 43210 to $2,350 in 43215.

9 of the 27 are above the fair market rent for Franklin County ($1,602).

15 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Columbus when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Columbus

HUD lists 265 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Columbus. These are the largest.

  • Briggs Wedgewood Apts 777 Wedgewood Dr, Columbus 43228 869 low-income homes · 1 bd: 321 · 2 bd: 387 · 3 bd: 160 · In service since 1998
  • Wedgewood Village Apartments 3686,3680 Briggs Road, Columbus 43228 648 low-income homes · For families (614) 272-2800
  • YMCA of Central Ohio 40 W Long St, Columbus 43215 400 low-income homes · Studio: 400 · In service since 1996
  • Shilo Grove 986 Mount Vernon Ave, Columbus 43203 394 low-income homes · In service since 1988
  • Agler Green 2444 Gatewood Rd, Columbus 43219 384 low-income homes · 1 bd: 33 · 2 bd: 234 · 3 bd: 116 · In service since 2003 · For families (614) 471-2416

See all 338 buildings in Franklin County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Columbus

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 7 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Franklin County; none says it serves in Spanish.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Columbus

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Columbus or Franklin County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Columbus the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Ohio

  • Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it. Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Tax Credit

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic). Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Columbus

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Columbus, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Columbus Urban League

    788 Mount Vernon Ave, Columbus · 1 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (614) 257-6300

  • Nid-Hca Franklin County-Glenn

    35 E Gay St Suite 504, Columbus · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (614) 264-2896

  • Ohio State University Extension

    1960 Kenny Rd, Columbus · 3 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (614) 247-9151

Every agency in Franklin County All counseling agencies in Ohio

Help in Spanish near Columbus

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Columbus

HUD’s record names them for Columbus or Franklin County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (614) 421-6000

All housing agencies in Ohio Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Franklin County

These cities are also in Franklin County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Franklin County Housing in Ohio
See 5 more cities in Franklin County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Columbus, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Franklin County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Columbus.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Columbus

Short answers with the numbers for Columbus and all of Franklin County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Columbus?

The typical home value in Columbus is $252,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Franklin County it is $288,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Columbus?

Typical rent in Columbus is $1,295 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Franklin County is $1,602.

What is the FHA loan limit in Columbus?

Columbus uses the FHA limit for all of Franklin County (2026): $591,100 for a one-unit home and $1,136,750 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Columbus?

The typical homeowner in Columbus pays $3,341 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.32% of the home’s value; in Franklin County, the rate is 1.47%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Columbus?

There are 7 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Franklin County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).