In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $239,800 in Ohio and $279,900 in the city of Columbus, against $360,600 nationwide (Census ACS 2024). On the FHFA index, Ohio prices up 4.4% and Columbus-area prices up 3.7% from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026.
The latest one-year ACS estimates cover 2024. The Census Bureau lists October 29, 2026 as the release date of the 2025 one-year estimates, so the figures below will change at that point.
What it costs: median value in 2024
| Area | Median value, 2024 | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
| Ohio | $239,800 | ±$1,395 |
| Columbus, OH metro area | $334,800 | ±$4,248 |
| Franklin County | $315,100 | ±$6,632 |
| City of Columbus | $279,900 | ±$6,524 |
Source: Census ACS 2024, table B25077; owners’ own estimates, not sale prices.
Three points stand out:
- The Ohio median is $120,800 below the national median.
- The city of Columbus sits $40,100 above the Ohio median, but $54,900 below the Columbus metro median. The suburbs and the rest of the county pull the metro and county figures up.
- The margin of error for the city (±$6,524) is wider than for the state, because the sample is smaller. The true city median is very likely between about $273,400 and $286,400.
How prices have moved: the FHFA index
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
| Ohio | +4.4% | +41.9% |
| Columbus, OH metro area | +3.7% | +38.8% |
Source: FHFA HPI, purchase-only, Q2 2026 (release of August 25, 2026); changes by Payotte.
Ohio prices rose faster than the national index over both periods. FHFA’s release also reports that the East North Central division, which includes Ohio, recorded the strongest appreciation of the nine census divisions over the year, at 4.5%.
A worked example
A Columbus-area home worth $280,000 in Q2 2021 would be about $388,700 in Q2 2026 on the Columbus index index (+38.8%); over the last year alone it would gain about $13,900 (+3.7%). One home can differ widely.
How to use these figures when buying
Closing costs come on top: our Ohio closing costs guide covers who pays what, and buying a home in Columbus applies these numbers to the city, including property tax. First-time buyers can also check the Ohio first-time buyer programs.
Method and dataset
ACS median value. ACS 1-Year 2024, table B25077. Geographies: United States (0100000US), Ohio (0400000US39), Columbus, OH metro area (310M700US18140), Franklin County (0500000US39049), Columbus city (1600000US3918000). Read through the data.census.gov API on October 13, 2026.
FHFA index. FHFA HPI (purchase-only, seasonally adjusted), state series (Ohio), metro series (Columbus, OH, code 18140) and U.S. series. Index values used (Q2 2025, Q2 2021, Q2 2026): Ohio 343.94, 253.13 and 359.13; Columbus 412.88, 308.50 and 428.23; United States 426.58, 326.58 and 435.69.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home value in Ohio?
Ohio’s 2024 ACS median home value is $239,800 (±$1,395), against $360,600 for the nation: owners’ own estimates, not sale prices.
What is the median home value in Columbus?
For the city of Columbus, the 2024 ACS median value is $279,900 (±$6,524). Franklin County is at $315,100 and the Columbus metro area at $334,800.
Are Ohio home prices going up or down?
FHFA’s purchase-only index shows Ohio prices rose 4.4% over the year to Q2 2026, and the Columbus metro area rose 3.7%. Over five years, they rose 41.9% and 38.8%.
How Ohio compares with the other States
With a median of $239,800, Ohio is 41st of 50, in the bottom ten, and sits 33% under the national $360,600.
The States closest in median value are Kansas ($238,700) and Indiana ($243,500). The range runs from $170,800 in West Virginia to $875,900 in Hawaii; Ohio is $99,700 below the middle of that ranking (Wyoming).
On the FHFA index, Ohio prices rose 4.4% over the year to the second quarter of 2026, which places the State 11th of 50, 2.3 points ahead of the national +2.1%. Over five years the gain is +41.9% (11th of 50; nation +33.4%).
The two measures diverge: Ohio is among the cheapest States by median value, yet its prices rose faster than most over the past year.
Over five years, Ohio's +41.9% annualises to +7.2% a year (nation +5.9%). The latest year (+4.4%) is 2.8 points under that average, a slower pace than the five-year average.
Columbus, the main city, has a median of $279,900, 33rd of the 49 main cities Payotte covers. That is 17% above the Ohio median, a premium that ranks 19th of 49.
The one-year FHFA change runs from -1.2% in New Mexico to +8.3% in Alaska. Ohio (+4.4%) is 3.9 points below the top and 5.6 above the bottom; Kentucky (+4.3%) and New Jersey (+4.6%) are the nearest to it.
For scale, 20% of the Ohio median is $47,960, against $72,120 at the national median.
Compare with the other states: Median home price by state.
More Ohio guides
- Closing costs in Ohio: what buyers and sellers pay
- Ohio real estate transfer tax: rate, who pays, exemptions
- How Ohio property tax works and what the homestead saves
- Seller disclosure requirements in Ohio: the state form
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Ohio?
- Foreclosure process in Ohio: steps, timeline and your rights
- First-time home buyer programs in Ohio and Columbus
- How to verify a real estate license in Ohio
Sources
- Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year 2024, table B25077 (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Census Bureau, 2025 ACS release schedule (consulted October 13, 2026)
- American Community Survey 2024 Subject Definitions (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA news release, August 25, 2026 (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA HPI datasets (quarterly, purchase-only) (consulted October 13, 2026)