Location: Highland County, OH | Metro: Brown County, OH HUD Metro FMR Area
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 | $930 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,000 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,190 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,580 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,940 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,250 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,520 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,722 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,858 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-07-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,190 | $203,405 | 0.59% | F |
| 3BR | $1,580 | $300,696 | 0.53% | F |
| 4BR | $1,940 | $395,055 | 0.49% | F |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
The ZIP code 45171, located in Sardinia, OH, houses a population of 5,752 individuals, with 20.3% being renters. This indicates that while there is a presence of renters, it is not a renter-heavy area. The median household income stands at $73,838, which provides context for evaluating the market rent of $899.
Typical rent consumes approximately 14.2% of the local median income. This is calculated by dividing the market rent ($899) by the median household income ($73,838) and multiplying by 100. The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for the area is $950, as of FY 2024, which means the market rent is slightly below the FMR. This suggests that the rental market is competitive but not overly saturated with high rents.
Landlords in ZIP 45171 can expect tenants who are likely to have stable incomes relative to the rent they pay. Given the median income and market rent, potential tenants would typically allocate around 14.2% of their income towards housing, which is a reasonable proportion and indicates that most tenants could afford rent without significant financial strain. However, the relatively low percentage of renters implies that the demand for Section 8 vouchers might be limited compared to areas with higher renter populations.
To summarize, ZIP 45171 is not dominated by renters, and the income levels suggest that tenants generally have the means to cover their rent comfortably. Landlords should prepare for a tenant pool that includes individuals with steady incomes, though the number of tenants utilizing Section 8 vouchers may be smaller due to the lower percentage of renters in the area.
Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-07-31). 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.