Cost of Living in Franklin County, Ohio
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Franklin County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Franklin County ranks #2,775 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 12%)
Sourced county brief
Franklin County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,302 Per Month
Median gross rent in Franklin County is $1,302, which is $398 above the Ohio unweighted county mean of $904. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 28.6%. This figure is 1.7 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.9%. Median home value in the county was estimated at $288,400, while the state unweighted county mean is $196,325. Owner-occupied units had median selected monthly costs of $1,464, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $974. Median renter-household income was $52,781. All data points are from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Franklin County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.6% of renter household income in Franklin County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,302 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,464. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $52,080 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Ohio unweighted mean of county median rents is $904 per month. Franklin County's $1,302 median is 44.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Franklin County
Rent Burden
20.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,754
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.4%
of gross income
The median home in Franklin County may be a stretch
Median home value is $288,400. Estimated monthly cost: $2,302 vs. your max of $1,754.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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