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15-county MORPC region · Franklin anchored
Pioneer Data Analytics
Issue 02 · February 2026

CENTRAL
OHIO

Market Velocity Report

Across the 15 MORPC counties the typical home lists near $332,250 and goes to contract in about 62 days. Fairfield County is the tightest market; Hocking County gives buyers the most room.

DelawareFairfieldFayetteFranklinHockingKnoxLickingLoganMadisonMarionMorrowPerryPickawayRossUnion
15
Counties
$332,250
Median list
62
Days on market
6.49%
30-yr mortgage
Tightest market  Fairfield 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. February 2026.

MORPC Region
Central Ohio housing, county by county.
Snapshot. Across the 15 MORPC counties the typical home lists near $332,250 and goes to contract in about 62 days. Fairfield County is the tightest market; Hocking County gives buyers the most room.

RRegion at a Glance

Median list price
$332,250

across 15 counties

Median days on market
62

typical time to contract

Total active listings
3,328

homes for sale region-wide

★County Comparison

CountyMedian priceDOMActivePrice YoY
Delaware County$549,93567324-3.1%
Fairfield County$362,40046189-3.4%
Fayette County$226,5006452-1.9%
Franklin County$299,900501,639+1.7%
Hocking County$538,70010097+14.7%
Knox County$332,2505689-5.6%
Licking County$385,55062247-6.1%
Logan County$272,50078106+3.4%
Madison County$337,9005250-5.7%
Marion County$174,9756597-15.7%
Morrow County$297,9505456-3.1%
Perry County$239,4758850-9.1%
Pickaway County$366,15063110-7.4%
Ross County$253,7505590+1.0%
Union County$533,95161132-7.7%

Tightest market: Fairfield 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.

1How Last Month's Call Held Up predicted vs actual

Last month we projected the region's median price within 3.2% of where it landed.

Median list price
within 3.2%

across 15 counties

Days on market
within 18.4%

days-on-market swings a lot month to month, so we track the direction

Active listings
within 8.4%

across 15 counties

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

Median list price

$332,250

Days on market

57

Active listings

97
Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Delaware County

Delaware · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Delaware County
$549,935
Median list price
67
Days on market
324
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+29.9%) while prices soften (+0.9%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $523,638 home runs about 21.6% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 86% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling21.6%
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 $8,608 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

lifts the grade

11% 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 61% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

10.9%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +0.9% year over year while inventory is +29.9%, which places Delaware County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +5.0% 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.

+5.0%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%14th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%61th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%78th pct
Jobs & economy15%72th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%14th pct
Schools & education20%100th pct
Buyer leverage15%39th pct
Property taxes15%3th pct
Jobs & economy10%72th pct
Equity / appreciation10%28th pct

Delaware 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 (14th 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 · February 2026

Fairfield County

Lancaster · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Fairfield County
$362,400
Median list price
46
Days on market
189
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+17.8%) while prices soften (+1.4%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $368,711 home runs about 22.7% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 91% of peers, so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling22.7%
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 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 $4,230 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

18% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 46 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.

17.6%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +1.4% year over year while inventory is +17.8%, which places Fairfield County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -1.7% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 89% 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.

-1.7%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%9th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%18th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%89th pct
Jobs & economy15%70th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%9th pct
Schools & education20%90th pct
Buyer leverage15%82th 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) (89th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (9th percentile). Fairfield County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is schools & education (90th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (9th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Fayette County

Washington Court House · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Fayette County
$226,500
Median list price
64
Days on market
52
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+19.8%) while prices soften (+0.9%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $237,377 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 $2,284 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

roughly neutral

14% 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 middle of the pack, around the 43th percentile of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

13.6%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +0.9% year over year while inventory is +19.8%, which places Fayette County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -4.6% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 92% 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.

-4.6%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 · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%17th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%43th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%92th pct
Jobs & economy15%83th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%17th pct
Schools & education20%53th pct
Buyer leverage15%56th pct
Property taxes15%42th pct
Jobs & economy10%83th pct
Equity / appreciation10%28th pct

Fayette County grades C+ on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (92th 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 · February 2026

Franklin County

Columbus · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↙ StagnationCycle phase
Franklin County
$299,900
Median list price
50
Days on market
1,639
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Ghost Town. Both prices (+0.1%) and supply (+4.1%) are contracting.Stagnation market

For investors · Stable. 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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $301,515 home runs about 21.9% 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% ceiling21.9%
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 $4,664 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

19% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 50 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 88% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

19.2%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +0.1% year over year while inventory is +4.1%, which places Franklin County in the ↙ Stagnation quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -0.5% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is top-tier, ahead of 87% 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.

-0.5%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%12th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%87th pct
Jobs & economy15%67th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%12th pct
Schools & education20%86th pct
Buyer leverage15%88th 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) (87th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (12th percentile). Franklin County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (88th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is property taxes (5th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Hocking County

Logan · MORPC Region
CoolingInvestor StableResident ↗ ExpansionCycle phase
Hocking County
$538,700
Median list price
100
Days on market
97
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Boom Town. Supply is rising (+69.3%) and prices are still climbing (+2.6%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $282,404 home runs about 24.7% 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% ceiling24.7%
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 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 $2,865 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

17% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 100 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 22th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

16.8%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

drags the grade

Prices are running +2.6% year over year while inventory is +69.3%, which places Hocking County in the ↗ Expansion quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +90.8% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is near the bottom of the region, behind 97% 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.

+90.8%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%22th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%3th pct
Jobs & economy15%58th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%4th pct
Schools & education20%56th pct
Buyer leverage15%78th pct
Property taxes15%36th pct
Jobs & economy10%58th pct
Equity / appreciation10%46th pct

Hocking County grades D on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (58th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is reality gap (list vs value) (3th percentile). Hocking County grades C on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (78th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (4th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Knox County

Mount Vernon · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Knox County
$332,250
Median list price
56
Days on market
89
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-12.4%) and pushing prices up (+5.2%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $287,142 home runs about 20.8% 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% ceiling20.8%
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 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 $3,085 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

15% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 56 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 32th percentile). For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

15.0%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

roughly neutral

Prices are running +5.2% year over year while inventory is -12.4%, which places Knox County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +15.7% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is middle of the pack, around the 54th 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.

+15.7%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%32th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%54th pct
Jobs & economy15%79th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%22th pct
Schools & education20%84th pct
Buyer leverage15%67th pct
Property taxes15%30th pct
Jobs & economy10%79th pct
Equity / appreciation10%81th 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 · February 2026

Licking County

Newark · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Licking County
$385,550
Median list price
62
Days on market
247
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-5.9%) and pushing prices up (+2.4%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $339,086 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 $4,261 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

roughly neutral

13% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 62 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is middle of the pack, around the 48th percentile of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

13.1%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

roughly neutral

Prices are running +2.4% year over year while inventory is -5.9%, which places Licking County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +13.7% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is middle of the pack, around the 59th 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.

+13.7%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%48th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%59th pct
Jobs & economy15%69th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%10th pct
Schools & education20%87th pct
Buyer leverage15%52th pct
Property taxes15%18th pct
Jobs & economy10%69th pct
Equity / appreciation10%45th 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 · February 2026

Logan County

Bellefontaine · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↗ ExpansionCycle phase
Logan County
$272,500
Median list price
78
Days on market
106
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Boom Town. Supply is rising (+14.7%) and prices are still climbing (+3.0%).Expansion market

For investors · Stable. Ride the wave, but make sure your exit price is realistic given the supply flood.
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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $251,768 home runs about 19.5% 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% ceiling19.5%
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 $2,633 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

roughly neutral

14% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 78 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is middle of the pack, around the 40th percentile of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

14.0%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +3.0% year over year while inventory is +14.7%, which places Logan County in the ↗ Expansion quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +8.2% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 71% 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.

+8.2%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%40th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%71th pct
Jobs & economy15%70th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%37th pct
Schools & education20%67th pct
Buyer leverage15%60th 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) (71th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (37th percentile). Logan County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (70th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is property taxes (33th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Madison County

London · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StableResident ↙ StagnationCycle phase
Madison County
$337,900
Median list price
52
Days on market
50
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Ghost Town. Both prices (+1.1%) and supply (+0.0%) 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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $320,402 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 $3,374 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

roughly neutral

11% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 52 days to go under contract. Fewer cuts mean sellers hold pricing power; more cuts hand leverage to buyers. For an investor this market is middle of the pack, around the 58th percentile of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

11.4%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +1.1% year over year while inventory is +0.0%, which places Madison County in the ↙ Stagnation quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +5.5% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 76% 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.

+5.5%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%58th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%76th pct
Jobs & economy15%76th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%24th pct
Schools & education20%81th pct
Buyer leverage15%42th pct
Property taxes15%32th pct
Jobs & economy10%76th pct
Equity / appreciation10%30th pct

Madison County grades B- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (76th 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 affordability (24th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Marion County

Marion · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StrongResident ↗ ExpansionCycle phase
Marion County
$174,975
Median list price
65
Days on market
97
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Boom Town. Supply is rising (+17.0%) and prices are still climbing (+5.3%).Expansion market

For investors · Strong. Ride the wave, but make sure your exit price is realistic given the supply flood.
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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $179,302 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 $1,756 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

18% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 65 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.

18.0%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +5.3% year over year while inventory is +17.0%, which places Marion County in the ↗ Expansion quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit -2.4% 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.

-2.4%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%16th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%90th pct
Jobs & economy15%55th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%66th pct
Schools & education20%29th pct
Buyer leverage15%84th pct
Property taxes15%39th pct
Jobs & economy10%55th pct
Equity / appreciation10%82th pct

Marion County grades B- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (90th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (16th percentile). Marion County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (84th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is schools & education (29th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Morrow County

Mount Gilead · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StableResident ↗ ExpansionCycle phase
Morrow County
$297,950
Median list price
54
Days on market
56
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Boom Town. Supply is rising (+27.6%) and prices are still climbing (+2.3%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $280,521 home runs about 21.2% of a local paycheck. That is near the bottom of the region, behind 82% 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 $3,085 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

19% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 54 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 88% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

19.2%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +2.3% year over year while inventory is +27.6%, which places Morrow County in the ↗ Expansion quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +6.2% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 75% 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.

+6.2%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%18th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%12th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%75th pct
Jobs & economy15%69th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%18th pct
Schools & education20%61th pct
Buyer leverage15%88th pct
Property taxes15%28th pct
Jobs & economy10%69th pct
Equity / appreciation10%44th pct

Morrow County grades C on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (75th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (12th percentile). Morrow County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (88th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (18th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Perry County

New Lexington · MORPC Region
StrongInvestor StableResident ↙ StagnationCycle phase
Perry County
$239,475
Median list price
88
Days on market
50
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Ghost Town. Both prices (-1.0%) and supply (+6.4%) 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. Comfortably within reach of local incomes; values are holding steady.

01

Affordability can locals buy here

roughly neutral

At a 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $220,691 home runs about 18.3% of a local paycheck. That is middle of the pack, around the 51th percentile of peers, so affordability is neutral to the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling18.3%
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 $2,050 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

drags the grade

14% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 88 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.

14.2%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running -1.0% year over year while inventory is +6.4%, which places Perry County in the ↙ Stagnation quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +8.5% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is above average, ahead of 70% 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.

+8.5%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%51th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%39th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%70th pct
Jobs & economy15%60th pct

Resident / Livability · Stable

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%51th pct
Schools & education20%52th pct
Buyer leverage15%61th pct
Property taxes15%45th pct
Jobs & economy10%60th pct
Equity / appreciation10%17th pct

Perry County grades B- on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is reality gap (list vs value) (70th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (39th percentile). Perry County grades C+ on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (61th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is equity / appreciation (17th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Pickaway County

Circleville · MORPC Region
CoolingInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Pickaway County
$366,150
Median list price
63
Days on market
110
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-1.8%) and pushing prices up (+3.9%).Scarcity market

For investors · Cooling. 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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $332,285 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 $3,437 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

26% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 63 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 98% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

25.9%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

lifts the grade

Prices are running +3.9% year over year while inventory is -1.8%, which places Pickaway County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +10.2% 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.

+10.2%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 · Cooling

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability35%5th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%2th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%66th pct
Jobs & economy15%71th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%5th pct
Schools & education20%78th pct
Buyer leverage15%97th pct
Property taxes15%34th pct
Jobs & economy10%71th pct
Equity / appreciation10%67th pct

Pickaway County grades D+ on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is jobs & economy (71th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (2th percentile). Pickaway County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (97th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is affordability (5th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Ross County

Chillicothe · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↖ ScarcityCycle phase
Ross County
$253,750
Median list price
55
Days on market
90
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Seller's Market. Inventory is tightening (-2.7%) and pushing prices up (+2.1%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $204,868 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 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 $2,038 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

18% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 55 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 85% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

18.3%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

drags the grade

Prices are running +2.1% year over year while inventory is -2.7%, which places Ross County in the ↖ Scarcity quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +23.9% versus the ZHVI value index; against peers that gap is below average, behind most peers (the 39th 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.

+23.9%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%50th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%15th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%39th pct
Jobs & economy15%31th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%50th pct
Schools & education20%54th pct
Buyer leverage15%85th pct
Property taxes15%38th pct
Jobs & economy10%31th pct
Equity / appreciation10%41th pct

Ross County grades C on the investor lens. Its strongest factor is affordability (50th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is liquidity & pricing discipline (15th percentile). Ross County grades B- on the resident lens. Its strongest factor is buyer leverage (85th percentile of peers); its biggest drag is jobs & economy (31th percentile).

Market Velocity Report · February 2026

Union County

Marysville · MORPC Region
StableInvestor StrongResident ↘ DilutionCycle phase
Union County
$533,951
Median list price
61
Days on market
132
Active listings
6.05%
30-yr mortgage
“The Buyer's Market. Supply is flooding in (+25.7%) while prices soften (+1.6%).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 6.05% 30-year mortgage, the monthly payment on a typical $415,677 home runs about 20.4% of a local paycheck. That is below average, behind most peers (the 27th percentile), so affordability weighs on the grade. There is genuine headroom for local incomes to absorb higher prices.

25% ceiling20.4%
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 $5,216 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

19% of active listings have cut their price and homes are taking about 61 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 88% of peers. For someone buying a home, the same softness is good news: more room to negotiate.

19.0%
06

Price Momentum & Value where it is heading

drags the grade

Prices are running +1.6% year over year while inventory is +25.7%, which places Union County in the ↘ Dilution quadrant of the regional matrix. List prices sit +28.5% 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.

+28.5%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%27th pct
Liquidity & pricing discipline30%12th pct
Reality gap (list vs value)20%33th pct
Jobs & economy15%79th pct

Resident / Livability · Strong

FactorWeightThis county vs peers
Affordability30%27th pct
Schools & education20%96th pct
Buyer leverage15%87th pct
Property taxes15%18th pct
Jobs & economy10%79th pct
Equity / appreciation10%34th 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 (12th 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