Real Estate Investing in Rocky River, Ohio (44116)

Cuyahoga County • Population: 21,527 • Data updated: June 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 44116 (Rocky River, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Rocky River, OH (44116)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $408,374
Avg Monthly Rent $1,472
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $90,214
% Renters 29.7%

Market Analysis: 44116 Rocky River

The 44116 ZIP covers a section of Rocky River that demands careful diligence. Prices near $408K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 44116 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Meanwhile, 44116 offers a low basis, the region around Rocky River has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 44116 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 44116, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Rocky River:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,472/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
23 days
Average time to sell
Fast
8.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44116

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
8.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$90,197/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $99,289 $1,170 8.5% +10.3% $99,289
2BR $180,395 $1,410 5.6% +8.6% $90,197
3BR $383,324 $1,810 3.4% +7.7% $127,775
4BR $537,058 $1,940 2.6% +8.5% $134,265
5BR $734,099 +8.6% $146,820

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$427K$372K$317K$262K$206K$151KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,645$1,586$1,528$1,469$1,410$1,351Apr 2024May 2025May 2026

📊 How Does 44116 Compare?

Metric 44116 Rocky River Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $408,374 $408,374 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 7.5% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,472 $1,472 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44116? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44116 (Rocky River, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 44116 (Rocky River, OH)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Cuyahoga County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Cleveland Property Management Group is a residential property manager in Northeast Ohio, assisting with property purchase, portfolio analysis, and full-service management. summary from their website

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

SBS Property Management provides management, maintenance, inspections, finances, and communications for Condominium and Homeowner Associations across Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Aspire Real Estate helps sell homes quickly. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $408,374
Monthly Rent $1,472
Price-to-Rent 23.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44116

Population: 21,527

💰 Median Household Income
$90,214
This area
$90,214
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.7%
This area
29.7%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
62.4%
This area
62.4%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.3%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
Asian 1.9%
Black/African American 1.3%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 44116

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$18,350 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Rocky River Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
552 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,350 Per Student
A Very Good

Rocky River High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
825 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,350 Per Student
A Very Good

Kensington Intermediate Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
593 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,350 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Goldwood Primary Elementary School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,350 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
54 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,350 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Lewis F Mayer Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 21200 Campus Drive, Fairview Park
👥
349 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,354 Per Student
A Very Good

Garfield Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 13114 Detroit Ave, Lakewood
👥
469 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,433 Per Student
A Very Good

Harding Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 16601 Madison Ave, Lakewood
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,433 Per Student
A Very Good

Harrison Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2080 Quail St, Lakewood
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,433 Per Student
A Very Good

Horace Mann Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1215 W Clifton Blvd, Lakewood
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,433 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 7,165 Off-Campus Students
C+
Meryma'at Barber College
51 students · 3.9 mi
D
The North Coast College
53 students · 4.4 mi
D
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
522 students · 5.8 mi
D
Valley College-Cleveland
787 students · 6.4 mi
C+
Baldwin Wallace University
3,308 students · 6.7 mi
C+
Polaris Career Center
230 students · 7.4 mi
C+
Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College
41 students · 7.7 mi
C+
Cuyahoga Community College District
17,407 students · 8.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,165 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Rocky River, OH?

Expect median prices around $408K in Rocky River, OH. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been predictable.

How does Rocky River, OH stack up for property investment?

Rocky River, OH sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $408K and average rents around $1,472/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

Are landlord laws favorable in Rocky River, OH?

Rental owners in Rocky River, OH deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Is Rocky River, OH a good market for FHA house hackers?

Rocky River, OH is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $408K price point reasonable to enter.

What kind of tenants rent in Rocky River, OH?

Tenant quality in Rocky River, OH ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,472/mo.

See what 44116 really looks like for investors

You're reading the free snapshot. Unlock appreciation trends, cap rates, vacancy signals, Section 8 data, and full demographics for 44116.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 44116 (Rocky River)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 44116 (Rocky River, OH).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.