What it's like to live in Grove City
Grove City is a small city in Ohio with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Grove City deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Grove City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Grove City
Based on Grove City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,662
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,240 a year
- 42% of Grove City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,040
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,331/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,331 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $310,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $310,400 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 37% below US
208 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2486/100k · Grove City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (38 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Grove City's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,331/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Grove City
All Ohio guides →Moving to Columbus →
10 mi away · pop. 914,802
Rent $1,295/mo · Income $66,082
Compare with Grove City →Moving to Upper Arlington →
11 mi away · pop. 36,293
Rent $1,588/mo · Income $155,167
Compare with Grove City →Moving to Whitehall →
12 mi away · pop. 20,019
Rent $1,145/mo · Income $51,759
Compare with Grove City →Not sure Grove City is the one?
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