Living in Columbus, OH
Big city in Ohio
Columbus is a big city in Ohio, home to about 906,000 people, with 1.6 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: A young, growing state capital with a big university, affordable houses and stable jobs. Flat, and you'll drive.
Is Columbus a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Easy flying: CMH is 5 mi away
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $259k and rents for $1,720 a month
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 84°F
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 31 within 9 mi
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Columbus ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Columbus: common questions
What is the cost of living in Columbus?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $259k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,720 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 95, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Columbus?
Ohio collects about $932 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.35% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Columbus safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Columbus?
Columbus has cold winters: winter days average around 39°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 28″ of snow a year.
Does Columbus get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and cold waves: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.47 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Columbus?
The nearest major airport is CMH, about 5 mi away.
How Columbus scores
Each bar compares Columbus with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Columbus right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.