MoveMap
Moving Guides/Columbus

Moving to Columbus

What you need to know before relocating to Columbus, Georgia. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Columbus a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Columbus compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($998/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($195,100) are well below the us median; high school graduation rate of 90%.

Columbus at a Glance

Population
329K
Median Income
$54,661
Median Rent
$998/mo
Median Home Price
$195,100
Unemployment
3.7%
Avg Commute
128874 min

Cost of Living in Columbus

The median rent in Columbus is $998/month, while the median home value is $195,100. With a median household income of $54,661, residents spend roughly 22% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Columbus metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
29% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
36% below

Job Market

Columbus has a median household income of $54,661, which is 27% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Columbus

The violent crime rate in Columbus is 352 per 100,000 residents, which is 7% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1823 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Georgia

Georgia has a high school graduation rate of 90% and per-pupil spending of $14,660/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1.

36% of Georgia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Georgia has 252 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 12.0% uninsured rate, and 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Georgia is 76.8 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Columbus

+Pros

  • ✓Rent ($998/mo) is below the national average
  • ✓Home prices ($195,100) are well below the US median
  • ✓High school graduation rate of 90%

-Cons

  • ✗Median household income ($54,661) trails the national median
  • ✗Longer-than-average commute (128874 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus a good place to live?⌄

Columbus, Georgia has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($998/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($195,100) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Columbus?⌄

The median rent in Columbus is $998/month and the median home value is $195,100. The median household income is $54,661. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Columbus safe?⌄

Columbus has a violent crime rate of 352 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Columbus?⌄

Columbus has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $54,661.

Explore More About Columbus