Housing decision brief
Washington County, OH Housing Market
Washington County screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, 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.
46th lowest home value out of 88 Ohio counties with data | 41st lowest rent out of 88
Median home value
$174,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$828/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$734/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
30.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$94/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 rent
$828/mo is 1% below Ohio county median
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $94/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$61,355 median income is 6% below Ohio county median
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
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 Washington 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. | $174,100 | $173,050 | $281,900 | Near state median1% above Ohio county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $828 | $833 | $1,163 | Near state median1% below Ohio county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $734 | $903 | $1,672 | 19% favorable19% below Ohio county median |
Median household income | $61,355 | $65,182 | $74,755 | 6% pressure6% below Ohio county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.96% | 1.00% | 1.02% | Near state median4% below Ohio county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 30.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 15% pressure30.00% 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
+$28,235
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$29,898
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Washington County is affordable. The median rent is $828/month against a median household income of $61,355, putting rent at 16.2% of income.
Rent vs own
Renters in Washington County pay $828/month on average, compared to $734/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 $33,120/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $31,457/year. With a median household income of $61,355, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 30.0% of renter households in Washington County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Mahoning County where rent averages $775/month, Washington County is approximately 7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hocking County, OH | $172,300 | $806/mo | Same-state comparison near $172,300 home value and $806/mo rent. |
| Muskingum County, OH | $170,100 | $811/mo | Same-state comparison near $170,100 home value and $811/mo rent. |
| Ashland County, OH | $175,900 | $841/mo | Same-state comparison near $175,900 home value and $841/mo rent. |
| Carroll County, OH | $174,500 | $780/mo | Same-state comparison near $174,500 home value and $780/mo rent. |
| Fayette County, OH | $162,200 | $807/mo | Same-state comparison near $162,200 home value and $807/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Washington County
Is Washington County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Washington County?
How much income do you need for housing in Washington County?
What should I double-check before moving to Washington County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.