Location: Highland County, OH | Metro: Clinton County, OH
Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $880 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,000 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,200 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,510 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,870 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,169 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,429 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,623 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,754 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,200 | $183,506 | 0.65% | D |
| 3BR | $1,510 | $268,810 | 0.56% | F |
| 4BR | $1,870 | $315,720 | 0.59% | F |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
To determine if you should invest in ZIP 45159 (New Vienna, OH) for Section 8 properties, follow this decision tree:
1) Does the Fair Market Rent ($1,110) clear debt service on a $254,096 property?
No. The debt service on a $254,096 property, considering an average mortgage rate of around 5%, would be approximately $1,270 per month. This amount exceeds the Fair Market Rent of $1,110, indicating that the rental income would not cover the monthly mortgage payments.
2) Is market rent ($971) above, at, or below FMR?
Below. The market rent of $971 is lower than the Fair Market Rent of $1,110. This suggests that landlords might struggle to find tenants willing to pay the FMR, potentially leading to vacancies.
3) Are 20.1% renters + N/A-day days on market enough demand?
It depends. With 20.1% of residents being renters, there is some demand for rental housing. However, the lack of data on days on market (DOM) means we cannot accurately assess how quickly properties are rented out. Without this information, it's difficult to gauge the stability and speed of finding Section 8 tenants.
If the Fair Market Rent does not clear the debt service, as is the case here, then the answer is a definitive No. Even though the percentage of renters is relatively stable, the fact that the market rent is below the FMR and the absence of DOM data indicate potential challenges in securing consistent rental income to meet financial obligations. Therefore, based on the provided data, investing in ZIP 45159 for Section 8 properties is not advisable due to the mismatch between rental income and debt service requirements.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-08-31). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).
About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.