What it's like to live in New Albany
New Albany 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 highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New Albany deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
How New Albany compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Albany
Based on New Albany's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,710
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $94,200 a year
- 31% of New Albany renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$154,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $77,210
- Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 67% above US
$2,355/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,355 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $772,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $772,100 · 31% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Franklin County is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Franklin County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 48% below US
170 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 1661/100k · New Albany Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 121% above US
79% 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
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (56 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Albany's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,355/mo) equals 12% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near New Albany
All Ohio guides →Moving to Pataskala →
6 mi away · pop. 18,223
Rent $1,387/mo · Income $92,033
Compare with New Albany →Moving to Westerville →
8 mi away · pop. 38,645
Rent $1,364/mo · Income $109,404
Compare with New Albany →Moving to Reynoldsburg →
9 mi away · pop. 41,224
Rent $1,259/mo · Income $72,972
Compare with New Albany →Not sure New Albany is the one?
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