Buying a home in Columbus, Ohio

How much homes cost in Columbus

The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Ohio home prices explains the method in detail.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.

Are Columbus prices rising?

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Columbus, OH metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:

Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.

Prices in the Columbus area rose faster than the national index over both periods.

Closing costs at the median price

On top of the price, buyers and sellers pay closing costs: lender fees, the appraisal, the survey, escrow and recording fees, and title insurance. Several of these depend on the loan and on the providers you choose, so there is no single official figure. For the rules, who usually pays each item and a worked example, see our guide to closing costs in Ohio and our page on transfer tax in Ohio.

Property tax in Columbus

The Franklin County Auditor says Ohio property owners pay real estate tax on 35% of the property’s appraised value, and that a full reappraisal of the county takes place every six years, with an update in the third year. The most recent full reappraisal was in 2023, the 2026 update is a triennial one, and the next full reappraisal is scheduled for 2030.

The Auditor’s report for tax year 2025 (bills payable in 2026) lists the following for the City of Columbus taxing district (Columbus City School District):

Source: Franklin County Auditor, Composite Reduction Factor Report, tax year 2025, taxing district 010 (City of Columbus). The report’s voted rates total 115.89 mills before the reduction factors; the effective rate is what applies to residential property. Your address may fall in another taxing district, such as a different school district.

One mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of taxable value.

A worked example

Take a home appraised at the Columbus median value, $279,900:

• Taxable value: $279,900 × 35% = $97,965.
• Tax before credits and exemptions: $97,965 × 49.775275 ÷ 1,000 = about $4,876 a year, or about $406 a month.

This is an illustration, not a quote: the Auditor’s appraisal of a home differs from the Census median, and credits and exemptions reduce the bill. Our Ohio property tax guide explains them and how to contest a value. To see how property tax can be paid through your monthly mortgage payment, read our guide to escrow accounts.

Help for first-time buyers in Columbus

• City of Columbus. The Department of Development’s Division of Housing runs the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) for down payment and closing cost assistance. According to the city’s lender agreement, households at or below 80% of area median income qualify for the federally funded assistance and those at or below 120% for the city-funded assistance, and a participating lender applies for you. Ask the city for the current amount.
• Franklin County. The county’s down payment program covers homes in Franklin County outside the Columbus city limits; the contact is Homeport.
• State. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s limits for Franklin County, effective July 1, 2026, are $133,800 (target areas) and $111,500 (non-target areas) for one or two people.

Details are in our guide to Ohio first-time buyer programs.

Ohio guides for Columbus buyers

• Closing costs in Ohio
• Property tax in Ohio
• Transfer tax in Ohio
• Seller disclosure in Ohio
• Do you need a real estate attorney in Ohio?
• Foreclosure in Ohio
• How to verify a license in Ohio
• The steps of buying a home