Home / Columbus, OH

Columbus, OH

Profile: Cash Flow Priority
Cash Flow Emphasizes margin safety and downside protection. Best for yield-focused investors and conservative rental strategies. Default profile.
Appreciation Places more weight on demand and income growth while still requiring rental viability. Not a speculative or flip-focused lens.
No balanced view ? MarketScreen does not offer a 'balanced' view. Markets look meaningfully different depending on whether you prioritize cash flow or growth. Forcing an explicit lens mirrors institutional practice and helps you make clearer decisions.

Cash Flow weights rent yield and affordability highest. Best for investors seeking immediate rental income.

56 / 100

Avoid

i Structural factors make rental investing challenging here. Strong individual deals may exist, but the market does not broadly support rental performance.

Data as of: 2025-12-28

Why This Score?

  • Score of 56 indicates market fundamentals don't currently support broad rental investment.
  • Strongest area: Supply Risk (65/100).
  • Weakest area: Demand & Demographics (44/100).
  • Watch for elevated costs: .
  • Note: 56% of score based on assumed average conditions (missing data).
  • Uncertainty penalty applied for missing: crime_index.

Score Breakdown

Cash Flow Reality i Evaluates whether rents are meaningfully supported by local incomes and prices. Thin margins increase downside risk for rental investors. (40% weight) i Cash flow reality is weighted heavily because rental investments depend on sustainable margins, not appreciation alone.
62
View metrics used

Measures actual cash flow potential at current market prices

above average
P69 Industry Average
View raw value
40.0 as of 2025-12-28
below average
P31 Zillow Observed Rent Index
View raw value
1280.0 as of 2025-12-28
top quartile nationally
P81 Zillow Research
View raw value
4.2 as of 2025-12-28
above average
P69 Calculated (Zillow)
View raw value
0.78 as of 2025-12-28
Demand & Demographics i Measures the durability of renter demand based on population trends, household formation, and renter propensity. Strong demand supports long-term occupancy and rent stability. (15% weight) i Demand durability is weighted to reflect its importance in sustaining occupancy rates and rent growth over time.
44
View metrics used

Measures population growth, renter demand, and household formation

below average
P31 Census Bureau
View raw value
1.8 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
below average
P31 Census Bureau ACS
View raw value
6.8 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
below average
P31 Census Bureau ACS
View raw value
41.2 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
Employment & Income i Assesses income levels and job stability to evaluate whether renters can reliably support market rents over time. (15% weight) i Employment and income stability indicate whether renters can afford rents consistently, reducing default and turnover risk.
47
View metrics used

Evaluates job market strength and income levels

near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
below average
P31 Bureau of Labor Statistics
View raw value
4.2 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P44 Census Bureau ACS
View raw value
59800.0 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P56 Bureau of Labor Statistics
View raw value
3.8 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
Risk Flags i Captures factors that can disrupt rental performance, such as crime, taxes, insurance pressure, and natural disaster exposure. (15% weight) i Risk factors are weighted to penalize markets where external forces can erode returns unexpectedly. -3 uncertainty
50
View metrics used

Identifies structural risks to profitability

near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
above average
P69 Insurance Information Institute
View raw value
98.0 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
top quartile nationally
P81 FEMA
View raw value
22.0 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
below average
P31 State/County Assessor
View raw value
1.8 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
Supply Risk i Estimates the risk of new housing supply putting pressure on rents, particularly in fast-building markets. (15% weight) i Supply risk is weighted to capture how new construction can erode rents and occupancy in oversupplied markets.
65
View metrics used

Assesses new construction pipeline and inventory levels

near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
top 10% nationally
P94 Zillow Research
View raw value
2.5 as of 2025-12-28
above average
P69 Census Building Permits
View raw value
5.5 as of 2025-12-28
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
near average
P50 assumed When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions and treat the uncertainty itself as a risk. Missing data does not remove a factor from consideration.
Assumed average (50th percentile) - data unavailable
top 10% nationally
P94 Census Bureau ACS
View raw value
6.2 as of 2025-12-28

Data Confidence: 55.6% of this score is based on assumed average conditions Percentage of the score based on assumed or estimated data rather than directly observed values. Higher uncertainty means more of the score relies on neutral assumptions. (missing or estimated data).

Missing material metrics: crime_index. i Material metrics are key indicators that significantly affect investment decisions. When these are missing, an additional uncertainty penalty is applied to the Risk Flags category. An uncertainty penalty of 3.0 points was applied to Risk Flags.

How this was calculated

Cash Flow Priority Profile

This profile prioritizes immediate rental income over appreciation potential.

Category Weights
Demand Demographics 15%
Employment Income 15%
Supply Risk 15%
Cashflow Reality 40%
Risk Flags 15%

Percentile Scoring

Each metric is compared to all markets of the same type (metro or ZIP) in our database. A percentile of 75 means this market outperforms 75% of comparable markets on that metric.

Missing Data

When data is unavailable, we assume average conditions (50th percentile). The factor still exists in the market; we simply lack evidence. Uncertainty about material metrics (like crime or supply) triggers a penalty in Risk Flags.

View complete methodology

Avoid
Buyable
ZIP-level data Metro-derived

Rental Math Snapshot

Market-level indicators for rental feasibility screening.

Gross Rent Multiple (GRM) i Median home price divided by annual market rent. A rough affordability check. Lower multiples generally indicate stronger rental feasibility. ~10.7x
Rent-to-Price Ratio i Monthly rent divided by median home price. A quick screen for whether rents are meaningfully supported by prices. ~0.78%
Estimated Cash-on-Cash i This is a market-level heuristic, not a deal estimate. Assumes 25% down, 7% rate, 30-year term, and market-typical expenses. Individual properties may vary significantly. Negative (cash-flow challenging)
Operating Expenses i Typical operating expense ratio for this market, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and management. ~35-45% of rent

These figures reflect ZIP-level market conditions and are intended for screening only. Individual properties may differ significantly, and deal-level underwriting is required.