What it's like to live in Upper Arlington
Upper Arlington 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. Upper Arlington deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
How Upper Arlington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Upper Arlington
Based on Upper Arlington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,176
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,520 a year
- 35% of Upper Arlington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$119,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $59,560
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,588/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,588 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $595,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $595,600 · 35% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 94% below US
20 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 717/100k · Upper Arlington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 27% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 122% above US
80% 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
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (49 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Upper Arlington's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,588/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 (27% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Upper Arlington
All Ohio guides →Moving to Hilliard →
5 mi away · pop. 38,033
Rent $1,632/mo · Income $128,189
Compare with Upper Arlington →Moving to Columbus →
5 mi away · pop. 914,802
Rent $1,295/mo · Income $66,082
Compare with Upper Arlington →Moving to Worthington →
5 mi away · pop. 14,938
Rent $1,232/mo · Income $127,382
Compare with Upper Arlington →Moving to Dublin →
7 mi away · pop. 49,294
Rent $1,686/mo · Income $160,296
Compare with Upper Arlington →Not sure Upper Arlington is the one?
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