1st Advantage MortgageInvestors buying in Dublin, OH are measured on the rent the property earns. Locally, median gross rent is $1,686 and median real estate taxes are $10,001 a year, which together set how much loan a rent can carry.
What the numbers say about Dublin
For Dublin, the latest five-year ACS shows a median gross rent of $1,686 (well above the Ohio median of $1,034) and a median owner-occupied value of $563,500 (well above the Ohio median of $214,800). By the simple measure of annual rent over home value, Dublin sits at 3.6%, a lean ratio that leaves little room for taxes, insurance and dues. Lenders do not underwrite a ratio like that, but investors use it to decide where to look first.
| Indicator | Ohio | Dublin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.37 | 2.72 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 7.9% | 4.0% | -50% |
| Share of homes detached | 68.8% | 68.5% | -0% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 10.8% | 6.9% | -36% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 31.5% | 73.4% | +133% |
| Workers on their own account | 8.1% | 11.6% | +44% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 45.9% | 35.4% | -23% |
| Typical construction year | 1970 | 1996 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 5.8% | 3.6% | -38% |
| Households that rent | 32.8% | 22.9% | -30% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 1.31% | 1.77% | +35% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $2,822 | $10,001 | +254% |
| Household income, median | $71,389 | $160,296 | +125% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,034 | $1,686 | +63% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 11,810,293 | 49,294 |
Only 22.9% of occupied homes in Dublin are rented, well below the Ohio median of 33%, so the rental pool is smaller and a vacant unit may take more marketing effort. Against a median household income of $160,296 (well above the Ohio median of $71,389), 35% of renters report rent at or above 30 percent of income.
Property types and condition in Dublin
Dublin is dominated by detached homes (69% of units), which keeps most rental income tied to house comparables and puts maintenance squarely on the owner. Newer housing (median year built 1996) keeps repair budgets lighter, though competing new-build rentals can cap what a landlord can charge.
The Census counts 3% of Dublin housing units as vacant, with a rental vacancy figure of 5.3%.
How investors should read Dublin
A gross yield of 3.6% means Dublin is a market where purchase prices run ahead of rent, so a 1.0 ratio generally takes a larger down payment or a property priced below the local median. Newer construction (median built 1996) lowers near-term repair risk, but association rules and builder-grade finishes can limit rent growth. An owner-heavy market (77% owner-occupied) means many tenants are renting by choice rather than necessity, so condition and schools matter to them.
Taxes and risk in Dublin
In Dublin the median tax bill for an owner-occupied home is $10,001, or about 1.77% of value (Ohio overall: 1.31%). That bill is well above the Ohio median of $2,822. That is about 49% of a year of median rent gone to taxes before the loan is even counted.
Insurance follows risk. FEMA's National Risk Index lists Franklin County as relatively high overall, with cold waves (very high), heat waves (relatively high) and riverine flooding (relatively high) as the main drivers.
| Hazard in Franklin County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Hail exposure | Relatively High |
| Riverine flooding exposure | Relatively High |
| Heat waves exposure | Relatively High |
| Cold waves exposure | Very High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Low |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively High |
| Composite risk | Relatively High |
In Franklin County, as anywhere, the premium is part of PITIA, which means a quote with the roof, age and flood zone of the actual Dublin address belongs in your file early.
Running the numbers in Dublin
At the city medians a DSCR file in Dublin has $853 a month after taxes to cover principal, interest, insurance and dues if the ratio is 1.00, or $515 if the ratio is 1.25. Those two numbers show why insurance quotes and tax estimates come first.
Registration, deposits and nightly stays in Dublin
This page does not claim to list every Dublin rental ordinance. Before you buy, call the city's planning or code office and Franklin County to ask about rental registration, inspections and short-term rental permits, and read any association declaration. State tax treatment of short stays, as it applies to Dublin. Ohio's lodging tax covers transient guests who rent for fewer than 30 consecutive days, including Airbnb and VRBO style rentals, and counties may levy an additional lodging tax that operators register for and file under that county's rules.
Deposit limits are set by statute in Ohio (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16), and for Dublin landlords the rule reads: No statutory cap. A landlord who wants a Dublin month-to-month tenant out must give 30 days of notice. The return clock runs 30 days from move-out in Ohio, so Dublin landlords should keep move-in photos and repair receipts.
Dublin compared with nearby markets
Set Dublin ($563,500 median value) beside its neighbors: Springfield comes in lowest at $116,800, and Columbus tops the group at $252,900.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansfield | 50% | $1,488 | $119,600 | 47,663 | $814 |
| Springfield | 48% | $1,423 | $116,800 | 58,190 | $851 |
| Columbus | 56% | $3,341 | $252,900 | 914,802 | $1,295 |
| Dublin | 23% | $10,001 | $563,500 | 49,294 | $1,686 |
What fills Dublin rentals
About 11.6% of Dublin workers are self-employed, the kind of borrowers whose tax returns understate cash flow and who often prefer a loan sized on rent. On the workforce side, government workers are about 14% of employment, 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Employers named in Wikipedia's Dublin entry for 2020 include Cardinal Health, OhioHealth, Dublin City School District, CareWorks Family of Companies and OCLC, which is where many tenants earn the income that pays rent. Wikipedia's entry for Dublin notes interstate access via I-270 and air service through Ohio State University Airport and John Glenn Columbus International Airport, a practical point for tenants and owners alike.
Moving from numbers to a Dublin loan
Ready to test a Dublin deal? Use the calculator for the ratio, then start your application or send us the scenario.
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Where we checked
- FEMA hazard ratings for Franklin County
- Wikipedia article, Dublin, Ohio
- Text of Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 for Dublin landlords
- For nightly stays in Dublin: Ohio Revised Code 5739.09
- Ohio Administrative Code 5703-9-64 (Ohio)
- American Community Survey tables, Ohio
Census figures are 2020 to 2024 ACS five-year estimates for Dublin and carry margins of error. Landlord rules for Dublin rest on Ohio statutes and the CC BY 4.0 RedFlagLease dataset. Reviewed in October 2026, with no promise that rules have stayed put.
Quick file checklist
On a Dublin purchase, line up the lease, the tax estimate, the insurance quote and any association dues before the appraisal is ordered, and ask the appraiser's office what rent comparables they plan to use.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
Lease or market rent: what counts in Dublin?
The property's own rent evidence decides: a lease, or the market rent from the appraisal. Citywide, Dublin renters report a median of $1,686.
How much payment fits the median Dublin rent?
The denominator is the whole housing payment. Using Dublin's median rent of $1,686, a ratio of 1.25 allows $1,349, and a ratio of 1.00 allows all $1,686.
Are Dublin property taxes high for Ohio?
Dublin owners report a median $10,001 in annual real estate taxes, an effective 1.77% (Ohio: 1.31%). Your own bill depends on the assessed value after purchase.
Do DSCR lenders count short-term rental income in Dublin?
Often, with conditions: legal use under city and association rules, documented income and an insurance policy that covers guests. Dublin owners should check all three first.
How much deposit can a Dublin landlord collect?
Ohio limits deposits this way: No statutory cap. Return is due within 30 days after the tenant leaves. The governing section is Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16.
What hazard risk does Dublin carry for investors?
FEMA's index puts the county at relatively high overall. A lender cares about the premium and any flood requirement, which are address-specific in Dublin.
Can I close a Dublin DSCR loan in an LLC?
An individual can borrow too. If you prefer an entity for the Dublin purchase, expect to provide formation documents and sign a personal guaranty.