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Moving Guides/Columbus

Moving to Columbus

What you need to know before relocating to Columbus, Indiana. 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 ($1,169/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($253,900) are well below the us median; median household income ($81,832) exceeds the national median.

Columbus at a Glance

Population
84K
Median Income
$81,832
Median Rent
$1,169/mo
Median Home Price
$253,900
Unemployment
3.2%
Avg Commute
37829 min

Cost of Living in Columbus

The median rent in Columbus is $1,169/month, while the median home value is $253,900. With a median household income of $81,832, residents spend roughly 17% of monthly income on rent.

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

Rent vs. National Avg
17% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
17% below

Job Market

Columbus has a median household income of $81,832, which is 10% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Columbus

The violent crime rate in Columbus is 332 per 100,000 residents, which is 13% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1543 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Indiana

Indiana has a high school graduation rate of 91% and per-pupil spending of $14,162/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1.

33% of Indiana adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Indiana has 248 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 8.1% uninsured rate, and 2.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Indiana is 75.8 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Columbus

+Pros

  • Rent ($1,169/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($253,900) are well below the US median
  • Median household income ($81,832) exceeds the national median
  • High school graduation rate of 91%

-Cons

  • Longer-than-average commute (37829 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus a good place to live?

Columbus, Indiana has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,169/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($253,900) 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 $1,169/month and the median home value is $253,900. The median household income is $81,832. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Columbus safe?

Columbus has a violent crime rate of 332 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 3.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $81,832.

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