Rent vs buy in Ocoee, FL
In Ocoee, Florida, the typical rent is $2,170 /mo, while a typical home costs $414,035.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $27k
Ocoee's typical rent and home value form the basis, assuming 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point is year 5.
A clearly labelled opinion with the calculations shown. The figures are estimates rather than quotes. If you change a number, the stamp updates.
- Owning leads by
- $27k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 5 when owning catches up
- True ownership cost
- $3,627 each month year 1, against $2,170 rent
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The stamp relies on Ocoee's typical rent and home value figures. The result can change with your rent, price and years.
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Does renting or buying cost less in Ocoee?
If you count the money returned when you sell, buying costs $26,537 less over 7 years. In year 5, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with mortgage payments in Ocoee
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. At Ocoee's typical price, here are all monthly costs during year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,170 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,257 | $1,990 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $279 | 0.81% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $167 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $345 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,049 | $268 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $673 | The yearly return on that cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $173 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,627 | Take cash out, subtract the equity part and add the two lines above |
The Ocoee result explained by the numbers
- The typical home value comes from Zillow's ZHVI, September 2026
- $414,035
- The typical rent comes from Zillow's ZORI, September 2026
- $2,170 each month
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, which isn't modeled by the engine.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in home prices from the FHFA house price index for Florida, 1995 to 2025
- Annual figure: 5.4%
- Rent growthYearly growth in CPI rent of primary residence, 2006 to 2026
- Annual figure: 3.5%
- Return on savings40% 10-year Treasuries and 60% S&P 500 with dividends, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- Annual figure: 8.3%
- Property tax | Census ACS 2020-2024, Ocoee
- 0.81% of the value
- Home insurance | Census ACS 2020-2024, Ocoee
- $167 per month
- MaintenanceFrom Fannie Mae: the low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year: 1% of value
- Cost of buyingFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- Based on price: 3.5%
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- 6% of the price
What would flip the Ocoee result?
Each line shows where Ocoee's 7-year verdict changes, while all other conditions remain the same.
When renting comes out ahead
- Home prices increase by less than 4.6% a year, while the calculation uses Florida's long-run rate of 5.4%.
- The mortgage rate remains over 8.37%.
- A similar home rents for under $1,890 each month, compared with the typical local rate of $2,170.
- Before year 5, you move.
When buying comes out ahead
- Home prices increase by more than 4.6% a year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 8.37%; today's rate is 7.24%.
- The same home would cost over $1,890 a month to rent.
- You remain for 5 years or more.
How Ocoee compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Ocoee | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $414,035 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,170 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.9 (#563 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.81% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 27% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow's ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More Florida cities
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