In this season of Love Is Blind, the real plot twist is affordable housing.
Love may be blind, but one thing is clear: Ohio is one of the most affordable states in the nation for homebuyers.
One thing sticks out watching the hometown portion of Love Is Blind, Ohio, the season that’s currently airing on Netflix: The cast members live in bigger, nicer houses than what we’re used to seeing for single twenty-something and thirty-somethings in expensive coastal cities. It’s especially notable that going into the show, they were all single–and it’s more difficult to afford rent or mortgage payment on one income than two.
Why? Because Ohio is home to Cleveland and Cincinnati, two of the most affordable metro areas in the U.S. And the third of the Buckeye State’s big-city trifecta, Columbus, is slightly more expensive, but not by much. It’s especially notable that
A recent Redfin analysis found that a household earning the local median income can afford to buy the median-priced home in just 12 of the 50 most populous U.S. metro areas. Two of those metros are Cleveland and Cincinnati:
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- Cleveland: A homebuyer needs to earn $66,725 to afford the median-priced home, which sells for $230,000. That’s about $10,000 less than the typical income of $76,912.
- Cincinnati: A homebuyer needs to earn $81,487 to afford the typical home, which goes for $302,010. That’s roughly $7,000 less than the median income of $88,204.
- Columbus: A homebuyer needs to earn $92,935 to afford the typical home, which sells for $340,000. That’s just slightly less than the area’s $90,071 median household income, a much smaller gap than most other metro areas.
Let’s break it down by what homebuyers pay on a monthly basis:
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- Cleveland: $1,691 per month for the median-priced home with today’s prevailing 6% mortgage rate, assuming a 20% down payment and typical taxes and insurance.
- Cincinnati: $2,475 per month
- Columbus: $2,772 per month
Compare that to past Love Is Blind cities like Seattle, where someone needs to earn $192,503 to afford the typical home, 65% higher than the median local income of $124,380. The typical home in Seattle goes for $731,810, more than double the typical Ohio home, and the monthly costs of around $4,100 are roughly double those in Ohio, too.
At least in terms of housing affordability, this season’s Love Is Blind cast is sitting pretty. Especially Jessica, a doctor who reportedly owns a $740,000, 3,000-square-foot Columbus home. Her house was featured in an episode of the show, and wow. Maybe we should all be moving to Columbus?
For those of us who are looking to buy a home in the Buckeye State–or who want to cry about what we could afford if we lived there–here are some Redfin listings in Ohio.
Cincinnati: A Walkable Gem For $290,000
This two-bedroom, two-bathroom, fully renovated home is perfect for a millennial or Gen Zer searching for a starter home–whether they’re on a reality dating show or not.
Cleveland: A Historic Condo For $349,900
This elegant, historic condo with over 2,000 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, and 2.5 bathrooms features soaring ceilings and old-world glamour.
Cincinnati: A Spacious, Luxurious Home For $450,000
This is a four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom townhome in a country club community with over 2,200 square feet of living space.
Columbus Suburb: Balling Out Ohio Style For $966,000
Want nearly 5,000 square feet, a spa-like bathroom and a sprawling backyard for under $1 million? Look no further than this gorgeous listing on the outskirts of Columbus.
