Columbus is the kind of city that sneaks up on you.
It’s youthful (thanks to Ohio State), ambitious (thanks to a surging economy), and surprisingly green (thanks to the Scioto riverfront and numerous parks and trails).
So if you’re considering a move to this gem of a city, then you will find this guide invaluable.
Cost of Living
Columbus High Street
Overall affordability
Columbus regularly features on “affordable big city” lists for a reason: prices are below the U.S. average.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis tracks a metro’s overall price level using Regional Price Parities (RPP); Columbus sits under 100 (the U.S. average), meaning your dollar generally stretches further here than in many coastal metros.
Recent estimates place the Columbus RPP in the mid-90s, confirming a below-average cost profile.
Housing
Renters are spoilt for choice: from renovated brick in German Village to shiny apartments in the Short North and Arena District, plus budget-friendlier options in Clintonville, Worthington, Hilliard, and Grove City.
Homebuyers have plenty to choose from: older charm in Bexley and Grandview Heights, family-sized new builds in Dublin, Powell, and New Albany.
Check out sites like Zillow and Redfin for the latest values and month-to-month shifts; both maintain up-to-date dashboards for Columbus that many locals use when hunting for a new home.
Taxes & utilities
Ohio’s state income tax is graduated; Columbus adds a municipal income tax (commonly 2.5%) that funds city services. Winters bring heating bills (natural gas), summers bring A/C costs; water/sewer are average for a large Midwestern city, and most neighborhoods have competitive broadband options.
Everyday Cost of Living
Groceries, dining out, and entertainment tend to be moderate. Parking is rarely the headache it is in bigger coastal cities, though the popular urban neighborhoods do get tight on weekend nights.
Compare the cost of living in your current city with Columbus at www.numbeo.com
You may also like to read: The Benefits of Moving to a New City. In this guide, we examine the 10 life-changing benefits of moving to a new city.
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The region’s employment sectors include finance/fintech, insurance/insurtech, retail & apparel HQs, healthcare & life sciences, logistics, and a rapidly growing semiconductor supply chain catalyzed by Intel’s investment in nearby Licking County.
JPMorgan Chase has one of its largest global hubs here.
Nationwide is headquartered downtown; Cardinal Health (a Fortune 20) dominates the health-care supply chain; Amazon/AWS, Honda, and DHL are sizable employers; and Intel’s two-fab project has spurred supplier growth and new training opportunities across Central Ohio.
If you’re looking for work in tech, finance, healthcare, or supply-chain, you’ll find many opportunities.
Columbus isn’t a one-industry town; you can change career paths without leaving the metro.
Discover the latest job opportunities in Columbus at www.indeed.com
You may also like to read: Moving for Work. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving to a new city for work.
Healthcare Access and Quality
Ohio State University Hospital
When it comes to healthcare, Columbus rates highly.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is consistently ranked among the best hospitals in Ohio and nationally, and is particularly strong in numerous adult specialties and research-driven care.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is top-tier, often nationally ranked across multiple pediatric specialties, and often families move to Columbus specifically for this care.
Private systems like OhioHealth and Mount Carmel offer suburban campuses that reduce cross-town trips for routine care.
For you, this means short wait times compared with mega-metros, broad insurance acceptance, and strong specialty coverage for complex issues.
Discover more about healthcare resources in Columbus at www.columbus.gov
You may also like to read: Moving in Retirement. For many retirees, healthcare is an important factor when choosing where to live. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving home after retiring.
Best Schools
OSU Columbus
“Best” is subjective and depends on what you value (test scores, arts, STEM, gifted programs, athletics, or diversity).
Ohio issues district report cards with a star-rating system rather than formal rankings.
Around Columbus, several districts consistently earn top marks:
Upper Arlington City Schools, Dublin City Schools, Olentangy Local Schools, New Albany-Plain Local, Bexley City Schools, Grandview Heights, and Worthington routinely show strong overall ratings and college-readiness measures on the Ohio School Report Cards.
Within Columbus City Schools, you’ll find selective-admission programs (e.g., arts and STEM magnets) alongside neighborhood schools; quality varies school-to-school, so families often tour, talk to principals, and look closely at individual data.
Private options include esteemed parochial schools (e.g., St. Charles, Bishop Watterson, Bishop Hartley), independent schools (Columbus Academy, Wellington), and Montessori programs.
Check each district’s current report for the full breakdown; Ohio’s official dashboard updates annually and publishes the star ratings and performance details families use when house-hunting.
You may also like to read: How to Choose a Good School. In this guide, we suggest the things to take into consideration when choosing a new school for your children.
Best Neighborhoods
German Town, Columbus, Ohio
Short North / Italian Village / Victorian Village
Urban, walkable, and buzzy—arts galleries, restaurants, and arch-lit High Street. Great for car-lite living if you work downtown or near OSU. Expect higher rents and limited parking but top-tier convenience.
German Village / Schumacher Place / Merion Village
Brick streets, 19th-century cottages, and leafy vibes minutes from downtown. Coveted for charm and community, but renovated homes command a premium.
Clintonville / Beechwold
North-side bungalows and four-squares, parks and ravines, and a very popular farmer’s market. Good blend of affordability and access.
Grandview Heights / Fifth by Northwest
Small-town feel right next to downtown/OSU, with excellent schools, and great local dining.
Bexley
Tree-lined streets, historic homes, and strong schools east of downtown.
Varied price points, newer homes, strong schools, and family amenities, from walkable town centers (Dublin’s Bridge Park, Westerville Uptown) to master-planned enclaves (New Albany).
For lifestyle balance, also note the Scioto Mile riverfront parks and trails (a centerpiece of downtown living and weekend life).
Read reviews by people who live there for neighborhoods in Columbus at www.niche.com
You may also like to read: How to Choose a New Neighborhood. In this guide, we suggest things to take into consideration when choosing which would be the best neighborhood in which to live.
Crime and Safety
Short North, Columbus, Ohio
Like every large U.S. city, Columbus has neighborhoods with higher crime than others, and crime can fluctuate year-to-year.
The city publishes a Crime Dashboard with incident-level data so you can check recent activity around any address you’re considering.
Use it when comparing blocks, as even within the same neighborhood, safety can vary street-to-street.
For a broader context, the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and local police reports help track longer-term trends and category breakdowns (property vs. violent crime).
Always compare like-for-like urban cores when benchmarking.
If safety is your top priority, choose close-in suburbs (e.g., Dublin, New Albany, Upper Arlington, Bexley, Westerville) that pair strong municipal services with lower crime rates.
To get a feel for any neighborhood you are considering as home, tour at different times of the day, talk to neighbors, check porch-piracy reports, and ask property managers about lighting, access control, and package rooms.
In lively zones (Short North, OSU campus edges), late-night crowds raise the odds of nuisance crimes.
You may also like to read: Moving to a New City Alone. In this guide, we look at the challenges and solutions of relocating to a new city on your own.
Climate and Climate Change
What it feels like now
Columbus has four distinct seasons: warm-to-hot, humid summers; a bright, colorful fall; cold winters with moderate snowfall; and beautiful springs.
NOAA/NWS climate normals and local climate graphs provide a clear picture of typical temperatures and precipitation for the city’s main observing station (KCMH).
Expect muggy summer days and a handful of winter cold snaps, with spring and autumn often being the best seasons.
What’s changing
Ohio is already experiencing more heavy rain and warmer average temperatures, trends which are expected to continue this century.
State and federal climate summaries highlight increased precipitation (especially in cool seasons), more very-warm days, and heightened flood risk in some watersheds, issues cities like Columbus are actively planning for with stormwater upgrades and green-infrastructure projects.
Everyday implications:
Home choice: Look at drainage grading, sump pumps, and proximity to floodplains, particularly along creeks feeding the Scioto and Olentangy.
Utilities: Hotter summers can nudge electricity bills higher (A/C).
Recreation: The upside is a long biking/running season; the Olentangy and Scioto trails are a major quality-of-life asset.
You may also like to read: Climate Migration. In this guide, we look at the things to take into consideration when moving to a new place and how it could be affected by climate change.
Getting Around
Franklin Park, Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is car-friendly, with an improving transit system.
COTA buses cover the core and key suburbs, whilst bikeways and multi-use trails make car-lite living increasingly feasible in urban neighborhoods.
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) offers good domestic connectivity with minimal hassle compared to mega-hubs.
A 20-30 minute commute from the suburbs is normal.
Learn more about your travel options in and around Columbus at www.columbus.gov
The Pros and Cons of Moving to Columbus
Pros
Value for money. Below-average overall price levels give you more house and more life for your money.
Diverse, growing economy. From finance and insurance to healthcare, logistics, retail HQs, and semiconductors, the job mix is balanced with opportunities to upskill and switch sectors without switching cities.
Top-tier healthcare. OSU Wexner and Nationwide Children’s underpin a robust medical ecosystem you won’t usually find in a similarly affordable metro.
Livable urban neighborhoods. Short North, German Village, and the Arena District (among others) provide walkability, restaurants, and culture without coastal-city congestion.
Kid-friendly suburbs and strong schools. Several districts post high marks on Ohio’s report cards; youth sports, libraries, parks, and community centers are excellent.
Green space & riverfront revival. The Scioto Mile and trail network deliver big-city amenities with outdoor access.
Cons
Public transit is improving, but is limited. You can live car-lite in the core, but many suburban commutes still require driving.
Winter gray and summer humidity. Expect stretches of overcast in winter and sticky heat waves in summer.
Popular districts can be pricey and crowded on weekends; some places experience nuisance crime, parking constraints, and construction disruption.
School choice can determine your address. Families often pick a suburb specifically for schools, which can narrow housing options in peak moving seasons.
Climate-driven challenges. Heavier rains mean paying attention to drainage and basement waterproofing, although cities are spending more on resilience.
Start with your day-to-day. If you’ll work on or near campus or downtown, consider Short North, Italian Village, Victorian Village, Grandview Heights, and German Village for short commutes and buzzing street life. If you’re hybrid or remote, expand to Clintonville, Worthington, or Westerville for quieter streets and yards.
Map schools to houses. If public schools are central, tour target districts early; houses in top-demand attendance zones (e.g., Dublin, Upper Arlington, Olentangy, New Albany) can move fast in spring. Use Ohio’s report cards, not just district reputations.
Check the crime dashboard by address. Don’t rely on hearsay; compare the streets you’re considering at different times of day.
Inspect for climate resilience. Ask about past flooding, sump systems, grading, and any flood insurance requirements. If you’re near a creek, scrutinize the flood maps and seller disclosures.
Test the lifestyle. Spend a weekend doing your “normal” routine: grocery run, gym, kid activities, date night, and see which neighborhoods feel right.
You may also like to read: Things to Consider When Moving Out of State. In this guide, we suggest the things to take into consideration when thinking of moving to a new state.
Quick Answers to FAQs
Will I need a car? Probably, unless you plant yourself along High Street or near OSU and work/play mostly there.
Where do recent grads live? Short North/Italian Village/Victorian Village, Grandview Heights, Harrison West, and downtown high-rises.
Where do families live? Dublin, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Olentangy/Powell, Hilliard, Bexley, Westerville, Worthington, and Grove City.
How’s the airport? CMH is close, easy to navigate, and is expanding services; most trips connect through a hub, but you’ll appreciate the short security lines.
Outdoor scene? Big. The Olentangy and Scioto trails, Metro Parks system, and Hocking Hills (an hour away) cover your hiking/biking/kayaking needs.
You may also like to read: Tips for Moving as a Single Parent. If you are thinking of moving to Columbus as a single parent, then you will find the tips in this guide invaluable.
Should I Move to Columbus?
Columbus delivers a rare combination: big-city opportunity, below-average costs, and highly livable neighborhoods, plus healthcare and schools that many people move for, not just with.
It does come with trade-offs such as car dependence, summer humidity, winter gray, and typical urban safety caveats.
But if you want upward mobility without sacrificing quality of life, it’s hard to beat.
Good luck with your move, and be sure to visit our home moving blog for guides on how to make every aspect of your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.
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