Columbus - OH vs Jacksonville - FL: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Jacksonville - FL is roughly 7% more expensive than Columbus - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Jacksonville - FL (49 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Columbus - OH sees more listings with price cuts (34.9% vs 28.8%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Columbus vs Jacksonville: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,811 a month in principal and interest in Columbus and $1,942 in Jacksonville, a gap of $131 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,525 in Columbus and $1,680 in Jacksonville, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.2 times rent in Columbus and 1.2 times rent in Jacksonville, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 17.9 years of rent in Columbus and 17.4 in Jacksonville; the lower ratio in Jacksonville means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +2.6% in Columbus and -3.3% in Jacksonville; over just the last three months the change was +0.4% in Columbus and +0.1% in Jacksonville.

Homes sell for 99.4% of list price in Columbus and 96.8% in Jacksonville, after 14 and 49 days on the market, with price cuts on 35% and 29% of listings. The signs are mixed: Columbus has more price cuts, while Jacksonville has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 9% on a year ago in Columbus and down 13% on a year ago in Jacksonville.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.