Real Estate Investing in Wadsworth, Ohio (44281)

Medina County • Population: 34,073 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 44281 (Wadsworth, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 Wadsworth, OH (44281)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $319,570
Avg Monthly Rent $1,691
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $84,130
% Renters 27.3%

Market Analysis: 44281 Wadsworth

This part of Medina County is not an easy win. The 44281 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 44281 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within OH, ZIP 44281 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Medina County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 44281 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Wadsworth's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 44281. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Wadsworth:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,691/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 44281

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$92,229/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $209,350 $1,280 4.4% +8.1% $104,675
3BR $276,687 $1,650 4.3% +7.7% $92,229
4BR $403,722 $1,760 3.1% +7.6% $100,930
5BR $524,082 +7.8% $104,816

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$334K$293K$251K$210K$169K$128KApr 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,846$1,782$1,717$1,653$1,588$1,524Feb 2025Oct 2025May 2026

📊 How Does 44281 Compare?

Metric 44281 Wadsworth Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $319,570 $319,570 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,691 $1,691 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44281? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44281 (Wadsworth, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $319,570
Monthly Rent $1,691
Price-to-Rent 15.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 10.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44281

Population: 34,073

💰 Median Household Income
$84,130
This area
$84,130
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.6%
This area
41.6%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.2 years
This area
40.2 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Black/African American 1.4%
Asian 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
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 44281

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
16.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,811 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Sharon Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
666 Students
👨‍🏫
20.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,090 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Valley View Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
330 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Wadsworth Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
634 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B Good

Franklin Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
248 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B Good

Grizzly Academy

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B Good

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B Good

Central Intermediate School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
584 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B Good

Isham Memorial Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
354 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
B Good

Overlook Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
C+ Average

Wadsworth High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,591 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,283 Per Student
C Below Average

Wadsworth City School District Online Academy

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
8 Students
💰
$13,283 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

7 Nearby 1,526 Off-Campus Students
C
Hamrick School
89 students · 5.4 mi
C
Gerbers Akron Beauty School
59 students · 9.3 mi
C+
Medina County Career Center
52 students · 10.8 mi
C+
University of Akron Main Campus
13,518 students · 11.9 mi
D
Herzing University-Akron
381 students · 13.0 mi
C
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick
81 students · 13.0 mi
D
University of Akron Wayne College
1,361 students · 13.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,526 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Wadsworth, OH?

Median home price in Wadsworth, OH is near $320K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the smart move for investors in Wadsworth, OH?

Most investors in Wadsworth, OH run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Wadsworth, OH?

Wadsworth, OH vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is Wadsworth, OH good for landlords?

For rental operators, Wadsworth, OH rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How does Wadsworth, OH stack up for property investment?

Yes - Wadsworth, OH a 3.0/5 investability score. With $320K home prices against $1,691/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

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