Austin - TX vs Columbus - OH: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Austin - TX is roughly 27% more expensive than Columbus - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Austin - TX (60 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Columbus - OH sees more listings with price cuts (34.9% vs 30.1%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Austin vs Columbus: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $2,277 a month in principal and interest in Austin and $1,797 in Columbus, a gap of $480 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,603 in Austin and $1,525 in Columbus, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.4 times rent in Austin and 1.2 times rent in Columbus, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 21.5 years of rent in Austin and 17.9 in Columbus; the lower ratio in Columbus means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -9.8% in Austin and +2.6% in Columbus; over just the last three months the change was -0.1% in Austin and +0.4% in Columbus.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Austin and 99.4% in Columbus, after 60 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 30% and 35% of listings. The signs are mixed: Austin has longer time on the market and sales further below list, while Columbus has more price cuts.

The number of homes for sale is down 3% on a year ago in Austin and up 9% on a year ago in Columbus.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.