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15-county MORPC region · Franklin anchored
Pioneer Data Analytics
Issue 01 · January 2026

CENTRAL
OHIO

Market Velocity Report

Across the 15 MORPC counties the typical home lists near $340,000 and goes to contract in about 73 days. Ross County is the tightest market; Hocking County gives buyers the most room.

DelawareFairfieldFayetteFranklinHockingKnoxLickingLoganMadisonMarionMorrowPerryPickawayRossUnion
15
Counties
$340,000
Median list
73
Days on market
6.49%
30-yr mortgage
Tightest market  Ross County Most buyer choice  Hocking County 505 peer counties · 8 factors
Zillow · Realtor.com · Census · BLS · NCES  |  flip with ← / → · press C for contents · Print for PDF

Contents

Regional overview, then one page per MORPC county. January 2026.

MORPC Region
Central Ohio housing, county by county.
Snapshot. Across the 15 MORPC counties the typical home lists near $340,000 and goes to contract in about 73 days. Ross County is the tightest market; Hocking County gives buyers the most room.

RRegion at a Glance

Median list price
$340,000

across 15 counties

Median days on market
73

typical time to contract

Total active listings
3,571

homes for sale region-wide

★County Comparison

CountyMedian priceDOMActivePrice YoY
Delaware County$535,00074358-2.7%
Fairfield County$359,90067209-3.0%
Fayette County$224,5008160+5.9%
Franklin County$299,900641,761+1.7%
Hocking County$499,9009893+23.1%
Knox County$340,0007998-2.3%
Licking County$375,00073297-8.1%
Logan County$265,0007498-3.5%
Madison County$351,7456752+9.5%
Marion County$177,4507097-12.3%
Morrow County$324,9997253-4.7%
Perry County$225,5449851-14.4%
Pickaway County$350,00074115-9.1%
Ross County$244,95057106-2.0%
Union County$529,95073123-6.7%

Tightest market: Ross County · Slowest: Hocking County. Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Realtor.com inventory, Census ACS income.

The Forecast
What's next, and how we did.
Our approach. Each month we publish a forecast for the next month, then grade ourselves against it when the data arrives. No cherry-picking: the prior call is shown in full, every time.

1Tracking Our Calls

This is the first issue. Starting next month, every report opens by showing exactly how the prior month's forecast compared to what actually happened, so the track record is transparent and self-correcting.

2Our Call for February 2026 regional medians, graded next month

Median list price

$340,000

Days on market

71

Active listings

98
Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Delaware County

Delaware · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Delaware County
$535,000
Median list price
74
Days on market
358
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+43.8%) while prices soften (+1.1%).Dilution market

For investors · Stable. Negotiate hard. Target stale listings over 90 days for concessions.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $523,740 home runs about 21.8% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 87% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling21.8%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 84% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 100% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.64% of value, roughly $8,610 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is near the bottom of the region, behind 97% of peers, so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.5% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.5% year over year; typical worker earnings run $64,964. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 72% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

15% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 74 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is below average, behind most peers (the 37th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

14.6%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +1.1% year over year while inventory is +43.8%, which places Delaware County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +2.1% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 85% of the 505-county peer set. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+2.1%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityDelaware County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%13th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%37th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%85th pct
Jobs & economy15%72th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%13th pct
Schools & education20%100th pct
Buyer leverage15%62th pct
Property taxes15%3th pct
Jobs & economy10%72th pct
Equity / appreciation10%29th pct

Delaware County grades C+ on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (85th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (13th percentile). Delaware County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (100th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is property taxes (3th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Fairfield County

Lancaster · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Fairfield County
$359,900
Median list price
67
Days on market
209
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+13.9%) while prices soften (+1.5%).Dilution market

For investors · Stable. Negotiate hard. Target stale listings over 90 days for concessions.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $368,127 home runs about 22.8% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 92% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling22.8%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 70% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 95% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.15% of value, roughly $4,224 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 24th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.8% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.5% year over year; typical worker earnings run $48,012. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 70% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

16% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 67 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is below average, behind most peers (the 29th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

16.0%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +1.5% year over year while inventory is +13.9%, which places Fairfield County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -2.2% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 90% of the 505-county peer set. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

-2.2%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityFairfield County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%8th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%29th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%90th pct
Jobs & economy15%70th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%8th pct
Schools & education20%90th pct
Buyer leverage15%71th pct
Property taxes15%24th pct
Jobs & economy10%70th pct
Equity / appreciation10%32th pct

Fairfield County grades C on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (90th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (8th percentile). Fairfield County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (90th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (8th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Fayette County

Washington Court House · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Fayette County
$224,500
Median list price
81
Days on market
60
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+39.5%) while prices soften (+1.0%).Dilution market

For investors · Strong. Negotiate hard. Target stale listings over 90 days for concessions.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $236,105 home runs about 21.2% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 83% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling21.2%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 69% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 93% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

roughly neutral

The effective property-tax rate here is about 0.96% of value, roughly $2,272 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is middle of the pack, around the 42th percentile of peers, so the tax bill is neutral to affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 3.2% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +2.8% year over year; typical worker earnings run $39,426. On economic vitality that is top-tier, ahead of 83% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

lifts the grade

10% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 81 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is above average, ahead of 70% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

9.6%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +1.0% year over year while inventory is +39.5%, which places Fayette County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -4.9% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 94% of the 505-county peer set. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

-4.9%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityFayette County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%17th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%70th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%94th pct
Jobs & economy15%83th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%17th pct
Schools & education20%53th pct
Buyer leverage15%30th pct
Property taxes15%42th pct
Jobs & economy10%83th pct
Equity / appreciation10%28th pct

Fayette County grades B on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (94th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (17th percentile). Fayette County grades C on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (83th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (17th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Franklin County

Columbus · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Franklin County
$299,900
Median list price
64
Days on market
1,761
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+8.4%) while prices soften (+0.2%).Dilution market

For investors · Stable. Negotiate hard. Target stale listings over 90 days for concessions.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $301,043 home runs about 22.0% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 88% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling22.0%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 58% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is above average, ahead of 76% of peers, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.55% of value, roughly $4,657 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is near the bottom of the region, behind 95% of peers, so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.9% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.5% year over year; typical worker earnings run $45,288. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 67% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

18% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 64 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is near the bottom of the region, behind 84% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

18.4%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +0.2% year over year while inventory is +8.4%, which places Franklin County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -0.4% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 88% of the 505-county peer set. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

-0.4%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityFranklin County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%12th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%16th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%88th pct
Jobs & economy15%67th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%12th pct
Schools & education20%86th pct
Buyer leverage15%84th pct
Property taxes15%5th pct
Jobs & economy10%67th pct
Equity / appreciation10%22th pct

Franklin County grades C on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (88th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (12th percentile). Franklin County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (86th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is property taxes (5th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Hocking County

Logan · MORPC Region
CoolingInvestor StableResident ↗ ExpansionCycle phase
Hocking County
$499,900
Median list price
98
Days on market
93
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Boom Town. Supply is rising (+53.7%) and prices are still climbing (+2.5%).Expansion market

For investors · Cooling. Ride the wave, but make sure your exit price is realistic given the supply flood.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady; list prices run well above the index, the signature of a desirable or lifestyle market where buyers pay for the place, not the spreadsheet.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $281,735 home runs about 24.8% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 96% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling24.8%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 70% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 95% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.01% of value, roughly $2,858 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 36th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

roughly neutral

Unemployment is 3.6% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.5% year over year; typical worker earnings run $38,111. On economic vitality that is middle of the pack, around the 58th percentile of peers, which is neutral to both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

18% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 98 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is near the bottom of the region, behind 82% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

17.9%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

drags the grade

Prices are running +2.5% year over year while inventory is +53.7%, which places Hocking County in the ↗ Expansion quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +77.4% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is near the bottom of the region, behind 94% of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+77.4%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityHocking County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Cooling

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%4th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%18th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%6th pct
Jobs & economy15%58th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%4th pct
Schools & education20%56th pct
Buyer leverage15%82th pct
Property taxes15%36th pct
Jobs & economy10%58th pct
Equity / appreciation10%43th pct

Hocking County grades D on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (58th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (4th percentile). Hocking County grades C on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (82th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (4th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Knox County

Mount Vernon · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Knox County
$340,000
Median list price
79
Days on market
98
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-8.8%) and pushing prices up (+5.3%).Scarcity market

For investors · Stable. Move fast and expect competition. Full-ask offers are common.
To live here · Strong. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are rising, which builds equity over time.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $286,203 home runs about 20.9% of a local paycheck. That is below average, behind most peers (the 22th percentile), so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling20.9%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 70% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 95% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.07% of value, roughly $3,074 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 30th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.8% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +1.5% year over year; typical worker earnings run $40,571. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 79% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

16% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 79 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is below average, behind most peers (the 27th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

16.2%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

roughly neutral

Prices are running +5.3% year over year while inventory is -8.8%, which places Knox County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +18.8% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is middle of the pack, around the 48th percentile of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+18.8%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityKnox County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%22th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%27th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%48th pct
Jobs & economy15%79th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%22th pct
Schools & education20%84th pct
Buyer leverage15%73th pct
Property taxes15%30th pct
Jobs & economy10%79th pct
Equity / appreciation10%82th pct

Knox County grades C on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (79th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (22th percentile). Knox County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (84th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (22th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Licking County

Newark · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Licking County
$375,000
Median list price
73
Days on market
297
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (+2.9%) and pushing prices up (+2.0%).Scarcity market

For investors · Stable. Move fast and expect competition. Full-ask offers are common.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $337,573 home runs about 22.5% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 90% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling22.5%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 67% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 91% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.26% of value, roughly $4,242 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is near the bottom of the region, behind 82% of peers, so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.9% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.6% year over year; typical worker earnings run $46,457. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 69% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

15% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 73 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is below average, behind most peers (the 36th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

15.1%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +2.0% year over year while inventory is +2.9%, which places Licking County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +11.1% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 66% of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+11.1%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityLicking County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%10th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%36th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%66th pct
Jobs & economy15%69th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%10th pct
Schools & education20%87th pct
Buyer leverage15%64th pct
Property taxes15%18th pct
Jobs & economy10%69th pct
Equity / appreciation10%36th pct

Licking County grades C on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (69th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (10th percentile). Licking County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (87th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (10th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Logan County

Bellefontaine · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Logan County
$265,000
Median list price
74
Days on market
98
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-5.8%) and pushing prices up (+3.2%).Scarcity market

For investors · Stable. Move fast and expect competition. Full-ask offers are common.
To live here · Strong. Comfortably within reach of local incomes; values are rising, which builds equity over time.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $251,060 home runs about 19.6% of a local paycheck. That is below average, behind most peers (the 37th percentile), so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling19.6%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 68% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 92% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.05% of value, roughly $2,625 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 33th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.9% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.6% year over year; typical worker earnings run $42,611. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 70% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

17% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 74 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is below average, behind most peers (the 23th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

17.2%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +3.2% year over year while inventory is -5.8%, which places Logan County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +5.6% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 78% of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+5.6%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityLogan County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%37th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%23th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%78th pct
Jobs & economy15%70th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%37th pct
Schools & education20%67th pct
Buyer leverage15%77th pct
Property taxes15%33th pct
Jobs & economy10%70th pct
Equity / appreciation10%51th pct

Logan County grades C+ on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (78th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (23th percentile). Logan County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (77th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is property taxes (33th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Madison County

London · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StableResident ↙ StagnationCycle phase
Madison County
$351,745
Median list price
67
Days on market
52
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Ghost Town. Both prices (+0.9%) and supply (-10.3%) are contracting.Stagnation market

For investors · Strong. Low liquidity. Confirm it is not a new-build or luxury bifurcation before acting.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $318,982 home runs about 20.7% of a local paycheck. That is below average, behind most peers (the 24th percentile), so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling20.7%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 70% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 94% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.05% of value, roughly $3,359 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 32th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.6% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.8% year over year; typical worker earnings run $45,993. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 76% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

lifts the grade

8% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 67 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is above average, ahead of 80% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

8.1%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +0.9% year over year while inventory is -10.3%, which places Madison County in the ↙ Stagnation quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +10.3% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 67% of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+10.3%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityMadison County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%24th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%80th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%67th pct
Jobs & economy15%76th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%24th pct
Schools & education20%81th pct
Buyer leverage15%20th pct
Property taxes15%32th pct
Jobs & economy10%76th pct
Equity / appreciation10%28th pct

Madison County grades B- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is liquidity & pricing discipline (80th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (24th percentile). Madison County grades C on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (81th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is buyer leverage (20th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Marion County

Marion · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Marion County
$177,450
Median list price
70
Days on market
97
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (+0.5%) and pushing prices up (+5.2%).Scarcity market

For investors · Strong. Move fast and expect competition. Full-ask offers are common.
To live here · Strong. Comfortably within reach of local incomes; values are rising, which builds equity over time.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

lifts the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $178,101 home runs about 16.8% of a local paycheck. That is above average, ahead of 66% of peers, so affordability helps the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling16.8%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

roughly neutral

County schools average 48% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is middle of the pack, around the 45th percentile of peers, which is neutral to the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 0.98% of value, roughly $1,744 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 39th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

roughly neutral

Unemployment is 3.2% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is -0.3% year over year; typical worker earnings run $37,641. On economic vitality that is middle of the pack, around the 55th percentile of peers, which is neutral to both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

14% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 70 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is below average, behind most peers (the 39th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

14.1%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +5.2% year over year while inventory is +0.5%, which places Marion County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -0.4% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 88% of the 505-county peer set. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

-0.4%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityMarion County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%66th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%39th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%88th pct
Jobs & economy15%55th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%66th pct
Schools & education20%29th pct
Buyer leverage15%61th pct
Property taxes15%39th pct
Jobs & economy10%55th pct
Equity / appreciation10%81th pct

Marion County grades B on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (88th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (39th percentile). Marion County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is equity / appreciation (81th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is schools & education (29th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Morrow County

Mount Gilead · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↗ ExpansionCycle phase
Morrow County
$324,999
Median list price
72
Days on market
53
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Boom Town. Supply is rising (+9.3%) and prices are still climbing (+1.9%).Expansion market

For investors · Stable. Ride the wave, but make sure your exit price is realistic given the supply flood.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $279,164 home runs about 21.2% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 83% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling21.2%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 60% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 80% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.10% of value, roughly $3,070 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 28th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 3.1% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.7% year over year; typical worker earnings run $41,545. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 69% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

28% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 72 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is near the bottom of the region, behind 99% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

27.6%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

roughly neutral

Prices are running +1.9% year over year while inventory is +9.3%, which places Morrow County in the ↗ Expansion quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +16.4% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is middle of the pack, around the 52th percentile of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+16.4%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityMorrow County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%17th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%1th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%52th pct
Jobs & economy15%69th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%17th pct
Schools & education20%61th pct
Buyer leverage15%99th pct
Property taxes15%28th pct
Jobs & economy10%69th pct
Equity / appreciation10%35th pct

Morrow County grades C- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (69th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (1th percentile). Morrow County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (99th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (17th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Perry County

New Lexington · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Perry County
$225,544
Median list price
98
Days on market
51
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+5.1%) while prices soften (-0.1%).Dilution market

For investors · Strong. Negotiate hard. Target stale listings over 90 days for concessions.
To live here · Stable. Comfortably within reach of local incomes; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

roughly neutral

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $219,957 home runs about 18.4% of a local paycheck. That is middle of the pack, around the 50th percentile of peers, so affordability is neutral to the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling18.4%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 63% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 84% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

roughly neutral

The effective property-tax rate here is about 0.93% of value, roughly $2,043 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is middle of the pack, around the 45th percentile of peers, so the tax bill is neutral to affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

roughly neutral

Unemployment is 3.5% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.6% year over year; typical worker earnings run $41,151. On economic vitality that is middle of the pack, around the 60th percentile of peers, which is neutral to both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

lifts the grade

10% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 98 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is above average, ahead of 66% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

10.1%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running -0.1% year over year while inventory is +5.1%, which places Perry County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +2.5% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 84% of the 505-county peer set. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+2.5%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityPerry County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%50th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%66th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%84th pct
Jobs & economy15%60th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%50th pct
Schools & education20%52th pct
Buyer leverage15%33th pct
Property taxes15%45th pct
Jobs & economy10%60th pct
Equity / appreciation10%20th pct

Perry County grades B on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (84th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (50th percentile). Perry County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (60th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is equity / appreciation (20th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Pickaway County

Circleville · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Pickaway County
$350,000
Median list price
74
Days on market
115
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-2.5%) and pushing prices up (+4.0%).Scarcity market

For investors · Stable. Move fast and expect competition. Full-ask offers are common.
To live here · Stable. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are rising, which builds equity over time.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $331,194 home runs about 24.5% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 95% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling24.5%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 70% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 95% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.03% of value, roughly $3,426 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 34th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 3.0% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.8% year over year; typical worker earnings run $45,037. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 71% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

18% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 74 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is near the bottom of the region, behind 81% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

17.8%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +4.0% year over year while inventory is -2.5%, which places Pickaway County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +5.7% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 78% of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+5.7%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityPickaway County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%5th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%19th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%78th pct
Jobs & economy15%71th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%5th pct
Schools & education20%78th pct
Buyer leverage15%81th pct
Property taxes15%34th pct
Jobs & economy10%71th pct
Equity / appreciation10%66th pct

Pickaway County grades C- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (78th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (5th percentile). Pickaway County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (81th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (5th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Ross County

Chillicothe · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Ross County
$244,950
Median list price
57
Days on market
106
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-10.2%) and pushing prices up (+2.2%).Scarcity market

For investors · Stable. Move fast and expect competition. Full-ask offers are common.
To live here · Strong. Comfortably within reach of local incomes; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

roughly neutral

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $204,603 home runs about 18.5% of a local paycheck. That is middle of the pack, around the 49th percentile of peers, so affordability is neutral to the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling18.5%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 58% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is above average, ahead of 75% of peers, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 0.99% of value, roughly $2,036 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is below average, behind most peers (the 38th percentile), so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

drags the grade

Unemployment is 4.0% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is -1.7% year over year; typical worker earnings run $40,787. On economic vitality that is below average, behind most peers (the 31th percentile), which drags both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

24% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 57 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is near the bottom of the region, behind 96% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

23.7%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

roughly neutral

Prices are running +2.2% year over year while inventory is -10.2%, which places Ross County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +19.7% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is middle of the pack, around the 45th percentile of peers. A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+19.7%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityRoss County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%49th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%4th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%45th pct
Jobs & economy15%31th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%49th pct
Schools & education20%54th pct
Buyer leverage15%96th pct
Property taxes15%38th pct
Jobs & economy10%31th pct
Equity / appreciation10%39th pct

Ross County grades C- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is affordability (49th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (4th percentile). Ross County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (96th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is jobs & economy (31th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · January 2026

Union County

Marysville · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Union County
$529,950
Median list price
73
Days on market
123
Active listings
6.10%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+18.8%) while prices soften (+1.9%).Dilution market

For investors · Stable. Negotiate hard. Target stale listings over 90 days for concessions.
To live here · Strong. A stretch but workable on local wages; values are holding steady; list prices run well above the index, the signature of a desirable or lifestyle market where buyers pay for the place, not the spreadsheet.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

drags the grade

At a 6.10% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $415,871 home runs about 20.5% of a local paycheck. That is below average, behind most peers (the 25th percentile), so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling20.5%
02

Schools & Education what families weigh first

lifts the grade

County schools average 77% proficiency across reading and math (enrollment-weighted across every district), and 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. On the combined education signal that is top-tier, ahead of 99% of the 505-county peer set, which lifts the resident grade. School data reflects the latest reliable state testing (around 2018); county figures are enrollment-weighted, so a large urban district can pull the average down even where strong suburban districts exist.

03

Property Taxes the carrying cost

drags the grade

The effective property-tax rate here is about 1.25% of value, roughly $5,218 a year on a typical home. Against peers that is near the bottom of the region, behind 82% of peers, so the tax bill weighs on affordability for an owner-occupant.

04

Jobs & Economy economic vitality

lifts the grade

Unemployment is 2.4% (BLS, latest month), and the job base is +0.7% year over year; typical worker earnings run $55,678. On economic vitality that is above average, ahead of 79% of peers, which lifts both grades.

05

Market Liquidity who holds the leverage

drags the grade

20% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 73 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is near the bottom of the region, behind 90% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

20.1%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

drags the grade

Prices are running +1.9% year over year while inventory is +18.8%, which places Union County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +27.4% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is below average, behind most peers (the 33th percentile). A wide positive gap flags appraisal risk for investors, but in a desirable or lifestyle market it often just reflects what buyers will pay to be here.

+27.4%undervaluedaligneddelusional↗ Expansion↖ Scarcity↘ Dilution↙ Stagnationinventory velocity →↑ price velocityUnion County
07

How the Grades Are Built

Every factor is scored by where this county ranks among 505 peer counties (Ohio plus the five bordering states), then weighted. Higher percentile is better.

Investor / Stability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%25th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%10th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%33th pct
Jobs & economy15%79th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%25th pct
Schools & education20%96th pct
Buyer leverage15%90th pct
Property taxes15%18th pct
Jobs & economy10%79th pct
Equity / appreciation10%35th pct

Union County grades C- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (79th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (10th percentile). Union County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (96th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is property taxes (18th percentile).

Pioneer AI & Data · Network Compass · Generated 2026-06-29