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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.

Explore More About Columbus