Rent vs buy in Youngstown, OH
In Youngstown, Ohio, the typical rent is $1,075 /mo and the typical home value is $70,275.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $54k
Using Youngstown's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point comes in year 1.
Math shown, clearly labelled opinion. These numbers are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any figure and the stamp updates.
- How far owning is ahead
- $54k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 1 when owning catches up
- The true cost of owning
- $682 a month year 1, against $1,075 rent
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In Youngstown, is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying costs $53,833 less over 7 years, counting the money you get back when you sell. In year 1, owning's net cost falls below renting's and stays lower.
Rent. Own. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Youngstown
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1, using Youngstown's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,075 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $383 | $338 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $75 | 1.28% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $67 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $59 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $584 | $45 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $114 | What the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $29 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $682 | Cash out, take out the equity part, then add both lines above. |
Youngstown numbers behind the verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $70,275
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,075 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Ohio, 1995 to 2025
- 3.5% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Youngstown
- 1.28% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Youngstown
- $67 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would flip the result in Youngstown?
Each line marks the tipping point for the 7-year result in Youngstown, while all other figures stay the same.
When renting wins
- Less than $500 a month for a home like this (the typical rent here: $1,075).
- Your move happens before year 1.
When buying wins
- If you rented the same home, it would cost more than $500 a month.
- You stay for 1 year or longer.
Youngstown compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Youngstown | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $70,275 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,075 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 5.4 (#811 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 8.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 1.28% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 44% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities elsewhere in Ohio
- Rent. Columbus, OH. Renting is ahead by $12k.
- Buy. Cleveland, OH. Buying is ahead by $49k.
- Rent. Cincinnati, OH. Renting is ahead by $19k.
- Buy. Toledo, OH. Buying is ahead by $21k.
- Buy. Akron, OH. Buying is ahead by $19k.
- Buying wins by $25k in Dayton, OH.
- Renting wins by $25k in Parma, OH.
- Toss-up. Canton, OH. It's close, with renting ahead by $2k.
- Buying wins by $7k in Lorain, OH.
- Renting wins by $44k in Hamilton, OH.
- Toss-up. Springfield, OH. Renting leads by $713, a near tie.
- Rent. Kettering, OH. Renting is ahead by $34k.