Newark, OH — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Ohio·Newark

Licking County · Columbus · population 51,424

First-time buyersInvestors
Newark, OH
Image: Wikipedia · Newark, Ohio
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
71
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Newark stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 7.1% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $244,878
1-year +3.0%
5-yr CAGR +7.1%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.7%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$245k$111k$159k$207k$255k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
40/100
Car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
88/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,165/mo$850$1,047$1,243202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent131129100120202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 17.5
Lean buy

At a 17.5 price-to-rent ratio, Newark is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
65 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
75 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
60 · w16%
Rent YoY
63 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
68 · w10%
Long thesis

Newark has averaged 7.1% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+3.0% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Newark's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Newark

Newark is a city in Licking County, Ohio, with an estimated population of 51,424. It anchors the Columbus metro area. The population grew 0.7% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Newark is $244,878 as of 2026-04, up 3.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Newark average $1,165 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.7%). The composite momentum score is 71 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Affordable AND rising: median home $244,878 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.
●Healthy 5-year run: +7.1% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +3.0% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Newark (Wikipedia)

Newark is a city in Licking County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located 40 miles (64 km) east of Columbus at the junction of the forks of the Licking River. The population was 49,934 at the 2020 census, making it the 18th-largest city in Ohio. It is most known for having the world's largest basket, former headquarters of the now defunct Longaberger Company. The city is part of the Columbus metropolitan area.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

City facts

MayorJeff Hall
Area21.37 sq mi
Elevation853 ft
Settled1802
MottoLand of Legend ⏤ Past and Future
Density2390.90/sq mi

Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Licking County right now.

NWS active alerts (OH)Ohio Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Licking County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Newark

Lancaster, OH72 · RisingLorain, OH73 · RisingMassillon, OH71 · RisingPiqua, OH73 · Rising

Run the numbers for Newark

ToolCan I afford Newark?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Newark rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Newark to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolNewark cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
36° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
83° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
178
~49% of year
Annual precip
39″ rain
28″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Columbus area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Newark listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
72%
Humid climate
Median household income
$67,800
Ohio state median
Top industries (state-level)
ManufacturingHealthcareFinance

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Newark

Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.

See all Ohio cities →    Browse best-of lists →