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Living in
Columbus.
About
Life in Columbus
This city works best if you're looking for solid job prospects without premium big-city prices—the median home value sits around $252,900 and rent averages $1,295 a month, which means your money stretches further than it would in coastal metros. The job market is genuinely diverse and strong, anchored by Fortune 500 companies like Cardinal Health and Nationwide, but increasingly powered by tech, AI, and advanced manufacturing sectors that are attracting talent and investment in real ways. You'll find a young, growing population (median age 32) with increasingly global roots—the city has become a major hub for Asian, African, and Latino communities, making it genuinely multicultural in how people actually live day to day, not just in theory.
Columbus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Foreign-Born
15.0%
Broadband Internet
93.6%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Columbus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Columbus, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (9.3%), and 6.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
11.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.6%
of households
Married Couples
31.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Columbus
In Columbus, rent runs 25% above the OH average, and home values are 18% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,341
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $243,122 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Columbus and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Columbus is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Columbus Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Columbus, OH metro area
Commute21.5 min avg
How Columbus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Columbus, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 15% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Columbus runs 15% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
380.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,535.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Columbus Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Franklin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Franklin County, which includes Columbus, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $147,850 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $559,750 |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,200 |
| 2022 | 21 | Winter Weather | $16,100 |
| 2021 | 16 | Winter Weather | $103,600 |
| 2020 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $206,050 |
| 2019 | 25 | Winter Weather | $251,250 |
| 2018 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $959,750 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Franklin County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Franklin County, which includes Columbus, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
147
per year
Moderate Days
213
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Franklin County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Columbus has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.2"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
113
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
148
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 21°F | 3.09" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 2.63" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 3.88" |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.04" |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 4.78" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.70" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.28" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 3.78" |
| Oct | 66°F | 43°F | 3.19" |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 3.41" |
Healthcare11 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Columbus
Columbus has 11 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
11
within city limits
Uninsured
10.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Riverside Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Doctors Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ohio State University State Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Ohio State University State Health System · 410 West 10th Avenue
- Hospital campus: Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University · 1670 Upham Dr, Columbus
Grant Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mount Carmel St Ann's
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Westerville
Mount Carmel Dublin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.4 mi away · Dublin
Dublin Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Dublin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Columbus
Columbus's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 38.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
217
within city limits
Private Schools
47
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Columbus
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Public · 4-year · 45,638 students · in-state tuition $13,641 · 83% graduate · median earnings $67,080 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,562 students · in-state tuition $9,552 · 50% graduate · median earnings $57,435 (10 yrs after entry)
Columbus College of Art & Design
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 882 students · in-state tuition $42,200 · 60% graduate · median earnings $47,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 760 students · in-state tuition $36,422 · 49% graduate · median earnings $54,622 (10 yrs after entry)
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 532 students · in-state tuition $28,500 · 81% graduate · median earnings $77,859 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 414 students · in-state tuition $10,804 · 53% graduate
Private for-profit · 4-year · 257 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 58% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 210 students · in-state tuition $15,992 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,716 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,157 students · in-state tuition $36,598 · 68% graduate · median earnings $59,196 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,585 students · in-state tuition $44,304 · 66% graduate · median earnings $58,937 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Columbus
Columbus has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
47 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
52 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in Columbus
Columbus Metropolitan Library
96 S Grant Ave, Columbus
Barnett Branch Library
3434 E. Livingston Ave., Columbus
Driving Park Branch Library
1422 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus
Franklinton Branch Library
1061 W. Town St., Columbus
Hilltop Branch Library
511 S. Hague Ave, Columbus
Karl Road Branch Library
5590 Karl Road, Columbus
Linden Branch Library
2223 Cleveland Ave., Columbus
Marion Franklin
2740 Lockbourne Road, Columbus
Martin Luther King Branch Library
1467 E. Long St., Columbus
Northern Lights Branch Library
4093 Cleveland Ave., Columbus
Northside Branch Library
1423 N. High St., Columbus
Northwest Library
2280 Hard Rd, Columbus
Compare Columbus
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Columbus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Columbus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Columbus FAQ
Is Columbus, Ohio affordable?⌄
Columbus's median rent is $1,295/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $66,082/year. Median home value is $252,900.
Is Columbus, Ohio safe?⌄
Columbus's violent crime rate was 380 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2536 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Columbus, Ohio?⌄
Columbus has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Columbus, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Columbus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,295/month and median household income is $66,082/year. The median home value is $252,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Columbus, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Columbus is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from