If you ask people what their image of Columbus, Ohio is, you’ll probably get a lot of blank stares. Chicago, Phoenix, or Austin? No further introduction needed. But…Columbus?
Identity crisis aside, the city actually has a very intriguing personality. Roughly half the US population lives within 600 miles of downtown. Five Fortune 500 companies and 16 Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered here. It is home to one of the largest universities and one of the largest college football stadiums in the entire country. And, it’s the third largest US state capital after Phoenix and Austin.
Not to mention the rich food culture, some serious sports fans, and a strong and diverse economy. So if you’re planning on moving to what some people call The Biggest Small Town in America, you’ve got lots to look forward to.
Quick Facts About Columbus
- Population: the greater metropolitan area surrounding Columbus boasts 1,727,000 residents. Or 2,161,511. It depends on what suburbs are included in the count
- Rent and Housing: The median price for a home listed for sale in Columbus is around $275,000, while the average rent for an apartment is $1,230
- Average Salary: The median annual salary in Columbus hovers around $42,000, with entry-level positions starting around $31,000. In 2023, the minimum wage in Ohio rose to $10.10 per hour and is set to reach $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2025
- Cost of Living: According to figures offered by RentCafe, the cost of living in Columbus is 10% below the average nationwide. If you’re coming from San Francisco, it’s a 33% decrease in COL, and a 37% decrease if you’re moving from New York City
- School Rating: Columbus Public Schools are, based on students’ reading and math scores, a mixed bag. On average for elementary school students, 26% of them are proficient in reading, while 16% of them are proficient in math. Columbus’s High school readiness score is 14.1. This is just an average, though, and you can see where things stand district by district here
- Quality of Life: Columbus has an overall QOL Index score of 170, which is high. You can compare this with your current residence to get a clearer idea of what Columbus has in store for you
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The Best Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio
Facts and figures can hardly begin to paint a picture of life in Columbus. Columbus was very recently ranked in the top twenty of the Most Walkable Cities in the US, owing in large part to the city’s progressive walkable city initiatives and the Central Ohio Greenways network of over 230 miles of trails and paths that connect you to every beautiful corner of the area.
And of course, there’s the food scene and professional sports that people here just can’t seem to get enough of.
With all this at your proverbial doorstep, there’s only one question: Where in Columbus should you live? Take a tour of some of the best Columbus neighborhoods and find your own perfect new home no matter what you’re looking for.
Uptown
Uptown is a neighborhood in the western section of Downtown Columbus, putting you right in the heart of the city. If you want to be in the middle of the government and business lifeblood of the city, as well as top-notch cultural and social attractions, then this is the place for you.
“The school district [in Bexley] is a great one…[a]nd being only a nine-minute drive away from Columbus, you’re never far from any of those big city amenities, either.
The Columbus Museum of Art, with its ongoing Events & Programs series, is a living display of creativity. The Columbus Metropolitan Library has been called one of the most beautiful libraries in the US. One-of-a-kind Topiary Garden Park was inspired by and designed after a famous painting by impressionist Georges Seurat. Columbus Commons park is the central venue for concerts, a carousel for kids, and a multitude of lively summer events.
Located right across the Scioto River from Uptown is Genoa Park, with an amphitheater for the performing arts and trails running through green spaces. Just beyond is the Center of Science and Industry. Affectionately known as COSI, this amazing center of discovery boasts Ohio’s largest planetarium and a permanent Dinosaur Gallery exhibition to go along with its live shows and over 300 hands-on exhibits.
Arena District
Just northwest of downtown you’ll find the Arena District, home of the city’s three professional sports teams: the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the Minor League Baseball Columbus Clippers, and the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Also here is KEMBA Live!, a venue for concerts of all flavors, and 145-year-old North Market, featuring a world of food markets and eateries that is a favorite with everyone.
This is a great place to look if you’re into music, sports, or just want a slightly cozier vibe to the downtown bustle. In addition to all the amenities and events, the Arena District is packed full of restaurants, pubs, and parks.
Short North Arts District
Head north out of Downtown and make your way up the lively and iconic High Street, and you’ll soon find yourself in what some call “the art and soul of Columbus”. Short North is lined with buildings breathing with old-world charm, with some of the city’s best boutique shopping, art galleries, attractive dining, and rooftop bars, all in a community that prides itself on its openness and inclusivity.
Besides the many locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops, and the street art on just about every block, there is an active love of the offerings of Short North, evidenced in the Columbus Food Adventures tour of the neighborhood and the Gallery Hop, a monthly celebration of art, performance, and (of course) food.
Dublin and Bridge Park
A bit northwest of downtown, straddling the Scioto River, lie the twin communities of Dublin and Bridge Park. Away from the city center, both offer that small-town feel.
Dublin is actually a city separate from Columbus, named back in the 1800s by an Irishman who fell in quite fondly with the old-fashioned shops and brick-lined sidewalks that reminded him of the Dublin of his home country. Testifying to the heritage of this slice of the wider Columbus area are several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Closer to the Irish heart of Dublin is the Dublin Irish Festival, the largest three-day Irish Festival in the world.
“…[T]he cost of living in Columbus is 10% below the average nationwide. If you’re coming from San Francisco, it’s a 33% decrease in COL, and a 37% decrease if you’re moving from New York City.”
Across the river from the center of Dublin lies Bridge Park, a relatively new neighborhood within Dublin, known for its buzzing atmosphere of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Dublin and Bridge Park are mere minutes from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium while offering more than 60 parks and over 100 miles of cycling trails, making this enclave just north of Columbus a great place to keep in touch with the natural side of life.
Bexley
If you’re looking for a more suburban feel for your family while still in proximity of the city, it’s tough to beat Bexley. Once a place where the wealthy would come to build their spacious, luxurious estates, Bexley remains a slice of gentility, with plenty of tree-lined streets and parks.
The school district is a great one, and there’s also a lot of historic charm to be had. Including the Jeffery Mansion that’s available for visiting as well as renting out for events such as weddings. And being only a nine-minute drive away from Columbus, you’re never far from any of those big city amenities, either.
Columbus has a vibe quite unlike anywhere else. With an alluring array of neighborhoods to choose from, you may just find yourself sitting pretty here in the middle of the Buckeye State.
And with the city’s population – and popularity – on the rise, it may not be long before you can simply say you live in Columbus, without even having to say Ohio.
In last year’s 