Housing decision brief
Ross County, OH Housing Market
Ross County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable 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.
39th lowest home value out of 88 Ohio counties with data | 53rd lowest rent out of 88
Median home value
$171,500
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$906/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$875/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.8x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.7%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$31/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
$171,500 median home value is 7% below Ohio county median
Rent burden below pressure line
28.70% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $31/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$61,303 median income is 10% below Ohio county median
Health context
Health score is 42.6 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
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
- 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 Ross 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. | $171,500 | $184,050 | $281,900 | 7% favorable7% below Ohio county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $906 | $863 | $1,163 | 5% pressure5% above Ohio county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $875 | $924 | $1,672 | 5% favorable5% below Ohio county median |
Median household income | $61,303 | $67,805 | $74,755 | 10% pressure10% below Ohio county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.02% | Near state medianAt the Ohio county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.70% | 27.00% | N/A | 6% pressure28.70% 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
+$25,063
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$23,803
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Ross County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $858/month representing approximately 17.2% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 30.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Ross County pay $858/month on average, compared to $848/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 1%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $34,320/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $36,343/year. With a median household income of $59,819, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 30.0% of renter households in Ross County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Ross County sits 6% more expensive than Fayette County ($807/month) in terms of median gross rent.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County, OH | $169,900 | $872/mo | Same-state comparison near $169,900 home value and $872/mo rent. |
| Lucas County, OH | $163,900 | $934/mo | Same-state comparison near $163,900 home value and $934/mo rent. |
| Allen County, OH | $165,300 | $922/mo | Same-state comparison near $165,300 home value and $922/mo rent. |
| Fayette County, OH | $170,700 | $822/mo | Same-state comparison near $170,700 home value and $822/mo rent. |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | $185,400 | $908/mo | Same-state comparison near $185,400 home value and $908/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Ross County
Is Ross County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Ross County?
How much income do you need for housing in Ross County?
What should I double-check before moving to Ross County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.