Olentangy Schools Spotlight: What August 2026 Home Sales Tell Buyers and Sellers

Columbus REALTORS® named Olentangy Local School District one of three standout districts in its August 2026 housing report, thanks to a combination of rising sales and rising prices. The district spans southern Delaware County and a slice of Franklin County, including Powell and Lewis Center, and it remains one of the most in-demand higher-priced markets in Central Ohio.

The headline numbers are strong. The fuller picture is more balanced, and that is exactly what buyers and sellers here need to understand.

Olentangy by the Numbers: August 2026 vs. August 2025

• Closed sales: 138, up 12.2% from 123.
• Homes entering contract: 147, up 32.4%.
• Median sale price: $590,000, up 2.6%. Average sale price: $647,520, up 5.4%.
• New listings: 153, up 7.7%.
• Inventory: 347 homes, up 14.1%, or 2.7 months of supply compared with 2.6 a year ago.
• Median days on market: 34, up from 27.

For context, the regional median across Central Ohio was $345,500 with 2.4 months of supply.

The Story Behind the Headline

• Year to date, closed sales are up 9.5% to 1,070, but the median price is down 2.1% to $562,993, and price per square foot is essentially flat at about $246.
• Homes are taking longer to sell: a median of 44 days year to date versus 31 last year.
• The median list price of new listings jumped 14% to $629,550, well above the $590,000 median sale price.
• Sellers received 97.3% of their original list price, but 99.3% of their final list price, a sign that many listings adjusted before they sold.
• Single-family sales rose 20.4% to 112, while condo sales dipped 13.3% to 26.

Inside the district, the City of Powell recorded 24 closed sales in August, up 33.3%, with a median of $631,450, down 4.1%. That is a small sample, which is why neighborhood-level comps matter more than any single monthly number.

What It Means for Buyers

• Demand is real. Contract activity jumped 32%, so well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods are still moving.
• You have more choice and more time than last year. Homes that have been listed 30 days or more, especially ones already reduced, are where negotiating room tends to show up.
• Budget carefully at today's rates. At the $590,000 median with 20% down and a 7.03% rate, principal and interest alone come to about $3,150 a month.

What It Means for Sellers

• Buyers are active but price-sensitive. List prices rose much faster than sale prices this year, and the market has been correcting the difference.
• Price to recent closed sales in your specific neighborhood, not to district-wide averages or to what nearby homes are asking.
• Presentation matters more with 347 homes to choose from. Buyers compare condition closely at this price point.

Bottom Line

Olentangy remains one of Central Ohio's most active higher-priced markets, with August sales and contract activity well ahead of last year. Underneath the headline, buyers have more choice and more time, and year-to-date prices are essentially flat. It is a healthy, balanced market that rewards accurate pricing from sellers and patience from buyers.

Margaret Lipp | REMAX Premier Choice

Serving Upper Arlington, Dublin, Worthington, Clintonville, Hilliard, Powell, Grandview, and all Central Ohio communities

Data source: Columbus REALTORS® Central Ohio Housing Report and Local Market Update for Olentangy Local School District and Powell (Corp.), August 2026, based on Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS residential data. MLS price figures do not account for sale concessions. Mortgage rate data: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of September 24, 2026. Payment example shows principal and interest only and is illustrative, not a loan quote.