Inflation doesn’t just affect grocery prices — it’s quietly reshaping where families buy homes across Central Ohio. Rising costs are changing buyer priorities, shifting school district demand, and even influencing how local communities grow. As we look toward 2026, let’s break down how inflation is influencing housing and education in Columbus, Dublin, Powell, Westerville, and beyond.
1. Rising Prices Are Re-Drawing School District Maps
When inflation drives home prices higher, families start expanding their search. In 2025 and beyond, we’re seeing buyers who once targeted Dublin City Schools or New Albany now considering Olentangy, Worthington, or Westerville for better value. The gap between “premium” and “emerging” districts is narrowing — and that’s creating new opportunities for smart buyers.
2. Mortgage Rates and School Tax Millage Are Linked
As rates climb, monthly payments stretch thinner — and buyers become more sensitive to property taxes. Districts with higher levies, like Upper Arlington or parts of New Albany, are seeing a slower pace of luxury moves, while areas like Powell and Evans Farm (Olentangy Schools) are absorbing the next wave of value-minded families. Inflation doesn’t just hit rates — it hits school budgets too.
3. Teacher Pay, School Quality, and Local Real Estate Are Intertwined
Inflation also affects the labor market. As teacher salaries rise to match cost-of-living increases, districts must adjust budgets — which often means new levies. That ripple travels straight into home prices. Strong schools still command premiums, but those premiums are tightening as affordability pressures spread outward from Dublin and New Albany into Delaware County and beyond.
4. Builders Are Targeting “Education-Adjacent” Communities
Homebuilders follow school quality like gravity. With inflation nudging materials and labor costs higher, builders such as Bob Webb and 3 Pillar Homes are focusing on areas just outside major school hubs — offering luxury finishes without the steepest taxes. Communities like Evans Farm and Jerome Village are prime examples of where education access meets price efficiency.
5. Long-Term Impact: Value Stability in Strong School Corridors
Even with inflation, homes in respected districts hold their ground. History shows that when costs rise, buyers still prioritize education, safety, and resale potential — all tied to schools. The Columbus metro’s strongest value anchors remain Dublin, New Albany, Upper Arlington, and Olentangy Local. Inflation may change the math, but it won’t change what families care about most.
Inflation is temporary — great schools are not. Knowing where those lines cross is what separates a smart buy from an expensive mistake.
If you want to understand which districts will hold the best value through 2026 — let’s talk. [Contact Patrick Murphy, REALTOR® — Columbus, Powell & Dublin Expert]