What it's like to live in Hilliard
Hilliard is a small city in Ohio with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hilliard deals with rent well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
How Hilliard compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hilliard
Based on Hilliard's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,264
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,280 a year
- 33% of Hilliard renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$77,020
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,510
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 15% above US
$1,632/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,632 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $385,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $385,100 · 33% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 53% below US
155 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 787/100k · Hilliard Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 24% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 68% above US
60% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
22 public schools inside the boundary
There are 22 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (45 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hilliard's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,632/mo) equals 15% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (24% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Hilliard
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