Housing decision brief
Jefferson County, OH Housing Market
Jefferson County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
3rd lowest home value out of 88 Ohio counties with data | 26th lowest rent out of 88
Median home value
$120,600
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$792/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$704/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$88/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$120,600 median home value is 30% below Ohio county median
Lower rent
$792/mo is 5% below Ohio county median
Rent burden below pressure line
28.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $88/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$56,983 median income is 13% below Ohio county median
Tax rate needs attention
1.01% effective property-tax rate is 1% above Ohio county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is D. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Jefferson County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $120,600 | $173,050 | $281,900 | 30% favorable30% below Ohio county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $792 | $833 | $1,163 | 5% favorable5% below Ohio county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $704 | $903 | $1,672 | 22% favorable22% below Ohio county median |
Median household income | $56,983 | $65,182 | $74,755 | 13% pressure13% below Ohio county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.01% | 1.00% | 1.02% | Near state median1% above Ohio county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 8% pressure28.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$25,303
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$26,812
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Jefferson County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $792/month representing approximately 16.7% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 28.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Jefferson County pay $792/month on average, compared to $704/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 11%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $31,680/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $30,171/year. With a median household income of $56,983, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 28.0% of renter households in Jefferson County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Columbiana County where rent averages $736/month, Jefferson County is approximately 8% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County, OH | $123,600 | $761/mo | Same-state comparison near $123,600 home value and $761/mo rent. |
| Trumbull County, OH | $128,100 | $783/mo | Same-state comparison near $128,100 home value and $783/mo rent. |
| Harrison County, OH | $118,000 | $753/mo | Same-state comparison near $118,000 home value and $753/mo rent. |
| Gallia County, OH | $135,000 | $798/mo | Same-state comparison near $135,000 home value and $798/mo rent. |
| Jackson County, OH | $140,400 | $773/mo | Same-state comparison near $140,400 home value and $773/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Jefferson County?
How much income do you need for housing in Jefferson County?
What should I double-check before moving to Jefferson County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.