In Oberlin, a typical home is worth $225,600 and typical rent is $995 a month. Compared with all of Lorain County, typical household income is 11% higher and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $184,825 to $241,742.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Oberlin is in Lorain County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lorain County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Lorain, the typical home value is $139,200: 38% less than in Oberlin ($225,600).
2
58% of households in Oberlin own their home, against 74% in Lorain County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Oberlin
What homes there are in Oberlin, 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
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Kind of home: Oberlin and its comparisons
Measure
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Detached house
65%
76%
69%
61%
Attached house
7%
6%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
15%
5%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
11%
15%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Oberlin, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Lorain County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Year built: Oberlin and its comparisons
Measure
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Before 1960
38%
33%
38%
26%
1960–1979
27%
27%
26%
24%
1980–1999
21%
18%
20%
25%
2000–2009
11%
13%
10%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
9%
7%
11%
In Oberlin, half of the homes were built before 1969; in Lorain County, before 1973.
Homes in Oberlin are smaller: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Lorain County, 71%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K33%
$200K–$300K29%
$300K–$500K29%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Oberlin and its comparisons
Measure
Oberlin
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
33%
$200K–$300K
29%
$300K–$500K
29%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99944%
$1,000–$1,49922%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or more19%
Monthly rent with utilities: Oberlin and its comparisons
Measure
Oberlin
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
44%
$1,000–$1,499
22%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
19%
With a mortgage
$1,423 a month
Lorain County: $1,525 a month
Without a mortgage
$627 a month
Lorain County: $629 a month
Owners with a mortgage
54%
Lorain County: 62%
In Oberlin, 54% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,423 a month, against $1,525 in Lorain County. Without one it drops to $627.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Oberlin+40%
Lorain County+48%
Ohio+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Oberlin+19%
Lorain County+25%
Ohio+28%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Oberlin+61%
Lorain County+26%
Ohio+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Oberlin and its comparisons
Measure
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Typical home value
+40%
+48%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+19%
+25%
+28%
+33%
Typical household income
+61%
+26%
+26%
+29%
Homes in Oberlin gained value more slowly than in Lorain County: 40% since 2015–2019, against 48%.
Rents in Oberlin rose more slowly than in Lorain County: 19% since 2015–2019, against 25%.
Here income gained ground: typical income rose 61%, against +40% for home values and +19% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Oberlin and its comparisons
Measure
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
7.5%
4.4%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.3%
1.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.25
2.42
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
50%
78%
75%
69%
Carpool
8%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
28%
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
12%
12%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.25 on average, against 2.42 in Lorain County.
In Oberlin, 28% of workers walk or bike to work; in Lorain County, 2%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Oberlin?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Oberlin, worth $225,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Oberlin, which is $81,308 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $83,091 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lorain County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Oberlin. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $7,896 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,939
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$221,514
Total interest
$318,706
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,810 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,897 a month
Tight
$1,897 to $2,439 a month
Your payment · 29%
Hard
more than $2,439 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Oberlin ($81,308 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,501
Property tax
$244
Home insurance
$94
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$100
You need at least $7,896 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $1,939; principal and interest $1,501.
The city and its county
Oberlin and Lorain County
Oberlin is in Lorain 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).
Oberlin
Map of Lorain County, Ohio, with Oberlin marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Oberlin
Lorain County
Other cities with a page
Oberlin's own numbers
Typical home value
$225,600
Typical monthly rent
$995
Typical yearly household income
$81,308
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.3%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lorain County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,274
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
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 Lorain County.
A typical home in Oberlin is worth $225,600: about the same as the county and 5% above Ohio. With the typical household income in Oberlin ($81,308 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 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.
Oberlin2.8 years
Lorain3.0 years
Ohio3.0 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lorain County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lorain County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lorain County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lorain County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.2% +2.2% 2016
2017: +5.3% +5.3% 2017
2018: +4.9% +4.9% 2018
2019: +4.4% +4.4% 2019
2020: +4.6% +4.6% 2020
2021: +11.2% +11.2% 2021
2022: +13.0% +13.0% 2022
2023: +9.3% +9.3% 2023
2024: +7.4% +7.4% 2024
2025: +5.6% +5.6% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lorain County, Ohio and the United States
Period
County
Ohio
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.6%
+4.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+56%
+53%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+92%
+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
Oberlin next to Lorain 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
Oberlin$225,600
Lorain$223,200
Ohio$214,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Oberlin$995
Lorain$966
Ohio$1,034
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Oberlin$81,308
Lorain$73,347
Ohio$71,389
United States$80,734
See the full table
Oberlin next to Lorain County and Ohio
Measure
Oberlin
Lorain County
Ohio
U.S.
Typical home value
$225,600
$223,200
$214,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$995 ▲3% above the county
$966
$1,034
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$81,308 ▲11% above the county
$73,347
$71,389
$80,734
Households that own their home
58% ▼16 points below the county
74%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,936 ▼4% below the county
$3,055
$2,822
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.3% ▼0.07 points below the county
1.37%
1.31%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
47% ▼1 points below the county
47%
46%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lorain 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 Oberlin
For a typical $225,600 home in Oberlin, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Oberlin's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,939a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,896
Cash to close
$14,664
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $100
Conventional, 5% down$1,897a month
Down payment
$11,280
Cash to close
$18,048
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $107
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,561a month
Down payment
$45,120
Cash to close
$51,888
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,770a month
Down payment
$33,840
Cash to close
$40,608
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Oberlin
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,939
$7,896
$221,514
7.18%
FHA MIP · $100
$14,664
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,897
$11,280
$214,320
7.18%
PMI · $107
$18,048
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,561
$45,120
$180,480
7.18%
None
$51,888
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,770
$33,840
$191,760
8.18%
None
$40,608
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Oberlin is $995 a month: 3% above the county. In Oberlin, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lorain County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,274 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.50 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Lorain County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$924
$17.77
$36,960
1 bedroom
$1,050
$20.19
$42,000
2 bedrooms
$1,274
$24.50
$50,960
3 bedrooms
$1,628
$31.31
$65,120
4 bedrooms
$1,756
$33.77
$70,240
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 Oberlin
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Oberlin is in ZIP code 44074.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,140: $134 less than the fair market rent for Lorain County ($1,274).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Oberlin, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
44074
$830
$940
$1,140
$1,460
$1,570
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
44074 $1,140$1,460
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Oberlin 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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Oberlin. These are the largest.
Oberlin Homes138 S Main St, Oberlin 44074257 homes, 256 low-income · Run by Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $340 a month · Average wait: 21 months(440) 288-1600
Lmha Oberlin Homes56 Berger Ct, Oberlin 4407451 low-income homes · 3 bd: 20 · 4 bd: 27 · In service since 2013
Oberlin Homes LIHTC166 N Park St, Oberlin 4407451 low-income homes · Run by Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $405 a month · Homes at several sites(440) 288-1600
Concord Manor95 E Vine St, Oberlin 4407451 homes, 50 low-income · For older adults(440) 775-0144
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 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lorain County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Oberlin or Lorain County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Oberlin the same as in the rest of the state.
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).
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).
No legal help resource on our list is for Oberlin or Lorain County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Oberlin and all of Lorain 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 Oberlin?
The typical home value in Oberlin is $225,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lorain County it is $223,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Oberlin?
Typical rent in Oberlin is $995 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lorain County is $1,274.
What is the FHA loan limit in Oberlin?
Oberlin uses the FHA limit for all of Lorain County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Oberlin?
The typical homeowner in Oberlin pays $2,936 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.3% of the home’s value; in Lorain County, the rate is 1.37%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Oberlin?
There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lorain County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
