Seattle - WA vs Columbus - OH: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 120% more expensive than Columbus - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Seattle - WA (27 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Seattle vs Columbus: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,958 a month in principal and interest in Seattle and $1,797 in Columbus, a gap of $2,161 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,250 in Seattle and $1,525 in Columbus, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.8 times rent in Seattle and 1.2 times rent in Columbus, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 26.7 years of rent in Seattle 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 -2.9% in Seattle and +2.6% in Columbus; over just the last three months the change was -0.3% in Seattle and +0.4% in Columbus.

Homes sell for 99.3% of list price in Seattle and 99.4% in Columbus, after 27 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 34% and 35% of listings. The signs are mixed: Seattle has longer time on the market and sales further below list, while Columbus has more price cuts.

The number of homes for sale is up 20% on a year ago in Seattle 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.