Real Estate Investing in Columbus, Indiana (47201)

Bartholomew County • Population: 48,602 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 47201 (Columbus, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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

📈 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 Columbus, IN (47201)?

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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 $273,671
Avg Monthly Rent $1,361
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,582
% Renters 36.5%

Market Analysis: 47201 Columbus

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Columbus's 47201 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $274K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 47201 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $274K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

From a cash-flow lens, 47201 offers a low basis, the region around Columbus has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 47201 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 47201 is an operator game, not a passive one. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices of $274K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Columbus:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,361/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Columbus, IN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
12.6%
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 Columbus, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 47201

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$85,198/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $129,827 $1,270 7.0% +9.2% $129,827
2BR $174,092 $1,430 5.9% +9.0% $87,046
3BR $255,593 $1,720 4.8% +7.7% $85,198
4BR $395,555 $2,030 3.7% +5.9% $98,889
5BR $527,936 +5.6% $105,587

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$286K$251K$217K$182K$148K$114KMay 2006May 2016May 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,411$1,301$1,191$1,081$970$860May 2018May 2022May 2026

📊 How Does 47201 Compare?

Metric 47201 Columbus Columbus, IN Indiana
Home Value $273,671 $188,202 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.6% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,361 $1,365 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 47201? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 47201 (Columbus, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Columbus, IN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
66%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $273,671
Monthly Rent $1,361
Price-to-Rent 16.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 10.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
6.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 47201

Population: 48,602

💰 Median Household Income
$79,582
This area
$79,582
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.5%
This area
36.5%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.6%
This area
36.6%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.2 years
This area
36.2 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.3%
Asian 10.3%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
Hispanic/Latino 6.0%
Black/African American 2.1%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
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 47201

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
17.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,341 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Northside Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
878 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lillian Schmitt Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
689 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mount Healthy Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Parkside Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
724 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Richard L Johnson Early Educ Cntr

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
83 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Central Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
822 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

CSA Fodrea Campus

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

CSA Lincoln Campus

📚 K – 06 School
👥
366 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

Rockcreek Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

W D Richards Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
608 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

Columbus North High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,267 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

Columbus East High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,518 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
B Good

Southside Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
893 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,341 Per Student
C+ Average

Columbus Area Career Connection

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$14,341 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What investment strategy works best in Columbus, IN?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Columbus, IN. With home values at $274K and rents near $1,361/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

What is the typical rental rate in Columbus, IN?

Rent in Columbus, IN is around $1,361/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $274K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Columbus, IN?

Columbus, IN offers a reliable renter base at the $1,361/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How high is vacancy risk in Columbus, IN?

Columbus, IN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader IN rental market.

Is Columbus, IN a good market for FHA house hackers?

House hacking in Columbus, IN is a challenging. With home values around $274K and rents at $1,361/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

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