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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.

Explore More About Columbus