Buying a home in Ohio is still well within reach for most families. The typical home costs $214,800 — about 3.0× of the typical household income of $71,389 a year. That's one of the better ratios in the country. A family putting aside their entire income, with no other expenses, could cover the purchase price in around 3.0 years.

Renters face moderate pressure. The typical rent in Ohio is $1,034 a month, and 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing — the point at which most financial advisers say rent becomes unaffordable. That figure is 6% lower than the national average of 45%.

12.8% of Ohio homeowners with a mortgage spend more than 30% of their income on housing — close to the national average of 16.1%.