Rental markets / Columbus
Columbus fair market rents
Compare rents by bedroom and ZIP, then work out what a rental could earn at your purchase price.
3-bedroom gross-rent benchmark
-1.5% from the previous published schedule.
FY2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025
Includes tenant-paid utilities. This is a benchmark, not an approved rent or property-specific estimate.
Published rent benchmarks
Same bedroom count and selected area. Benchmark changes are not a forecast.
| Bedroom count | FY2025 | FY2026 · current | FY2027 · upcoming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,104 | $1,111 | $1,258 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,194 | $1,194 | $1,346 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,445 | $1,430 | $1,602 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,741 | $1,715 | $1,909 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,939 | $1,927 | $2,172 |
HUD area coverage: Delaware County, Fairfield County, Franklin County, Licking County, Madison County, Morrow County, Pickaway County. ZIP schedules may cover portions of this area.
Does a property work at that rent?
Use the benchmark as a starting point or enter the lease rent you expect. Price and cost inputs below are editable examples, not local estimates.
Monthly cash flow before income tax
-$19
Illustrative price and costs. Edit the assumptions to analyze your property.
- Lease rent used
- $1,565
- Upfront cash
- $53,500
Sources, coverage & how to use these rents
Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area. HUD area ID: METRO18140M18140. Coverage: Delaware County, OH; Fairfield County, OH; Franklin County, OH; Licking County, OH; Madison County, OH; Morrow County, OH; Pickaway County, OH.
HUD Fair Market Rents are gross-rent benchmarks for standard-quality rentals, generally at the 40th percentile. They include tenant-paid basic utilities, excluding phone, cable and internet. They are not a quote for a particular property or a promise of approved Section 8 rent. Local payment standards, rent reasonableness and utility allowances can differ.
FY2025 source (effective Oct 1, 2024; source revised Apr 28, 2025) · FY2026 source (effective Oct 1, 2025; source revised May 21, 2026) · FY2027 source (effective Oct 1, 2026). ZIP-level SAFMR source and methodology.
ZIP schedules: FY2025 ZIP source · FY2026 ZIP source · FY2027 ZIP source.
Data snapshot checked Sep 18, 2026. Annual benchmark changes reflect both data and methodology updates; they are not measured rent growth for the same house. Local reevaluations can affect effective dates. Confirm current program rules and property rent with the housing authority or your own comparable rentals.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Rental Wire is not affiliated with or endorsed by HUD. HUD's housing choice voucher guidance.
Calculation assumptions
Cash flow is rent less vacancy, operating costs, replacement reserves and a fixed-rate amortizing mortgage. Mortgage principal is included in cash outflow. Tax deductions, sale proceeds and appreciation are outside this first-year calculation. A target price holds the entered rent, expense amounts, mortgage rate and percentage down payment/closing costs fixed as the price changes. Property taxes and lender terms may change with the actual purchase price.
The benchmark-based input subtracts tenant-paid utilities once to estimate a lease-rent assumption. It does not calculate a voucher subsidy or determine a housing authority's approved rent. In custom-rent mode, the lease rent is used directly. Owner-paid utilities belong in operating costs.