What it's like to live in Westerville
Westerville 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. Westerville deals with 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
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
How Westerville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Westerville
Based on Westerville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,728
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,560 a year
- 49% of Westerville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,450
- Homes cost 3.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,364/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,364 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $374,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $374,500 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 53% below US
153 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 1597/100k · Westerville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.4 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 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°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, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 61% above US
58% 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
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, 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
Westerville'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 ($1,364/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 (27% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Westerville
All Ohio guides →Moving to Worthington →
6 mi away · pop. 14,938
Rent $1,232/mo · Income $127,382
Compare with Westerville →Moving to Gahanna →
7 mi away · pop. 35,486
Rent $1,466/mo · Income $109,061
Compare with Westerville →Moving to New Albany →
8 mi away · pop. 10,896
Rent $2,355/mo · Income $238,250
Compare with Westerville →Not sure Westerville is the one?
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