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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Columbus, OH Housing Affordability Index

Columbus, Ohio has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 96.8 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 942nd most affordable of 981 scored Ohio cities, compared with 112.1 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $252,900 home with 20% down, the Ohio average 30-year fixed rate of 7.29% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,385, or 25% of the city’s $66,082 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Columbus is updated every night from live Ohio mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Columbus MBR-HAI 96.8 Near National Average
Rank in Ohio 942 of 981 1 = most affordable
Ohio 112.1 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.29% Ohio lenders
Median home value $252,900 U.S. Census Bureau

Columbus is 15.3 points below the Ohio score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Ohio index

View Columbus Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Columbus

$1,385/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.29%
$59,400
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$66,082
Median Household Income
Ohio: $71,389
3.8x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Ohio: 3.0x
$1,324/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$3,445/yr
Median Property Tax
1.36% of median value
23.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
44.7%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Columbus, Ohio. The rate is the Ohio average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Columbus Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Columbus, Ohio score: 96.8 (Near National Average), ranked 942 of 981 Ohio cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/ohio/columbus”