MoveMap
Moving Guides/Columbus

Moving to Columbus

What you need to know before relocating to Columbus, Ohio. 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 ($1,254/mo) is below the national average; high school graduation rate of 91%; low uninsured rate (7.4%) and good healthcare access.

Columbus at a Glance

Population
2.2M
Median Income
$77,390
Median Rent
$1,254/mo
Median Home Price
$312,900
Unemployment
3.3%
Avg Commute
925444 min

Cost of Living in Columbus

The median rent in Columbus is $1,254/month, while the median home value is $312,900. With a median household income of $77,390, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.

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

Rent vs. National Avg
10% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
3% above

Job Market

Columbus has a median household income of $77,390, which is 4% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Columbus

The violent crime rate in Columbus is 287 per 100,000 residents, which is 25% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1692 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Ohio

Ohio has a high school graduation rate of 91% and per-pupil spending of $16,687/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1.

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

Healthcare Access

Ohio has 289 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 7.4% uninsured rate, and 2.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Ohio is 76.1 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Columbus

+Pros

  • Rent ($1,254/mo) is below the national average
  • High school graduation rate of 91%
  • Low uninsured rate (7.4%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Longer-than-average commute (925444 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus a good place to live?

Columbus, Ohio has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,254/mo) is below the national average and high school graduation rate of 91%. 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 $1,254/month and the median home value is $312,900. The median household income is $77,390. Overall the metro is considered average.

Is Columbus safe?

Columbus has a violent crime rate of 287 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 3.3%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $77,390.

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