Columbus, OH

Census place 3918000 · pop 914,802

D50/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in OH
📍 Ohio ranks #28 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster71/100 · top 26%
🚽 Own44.1% · bottom 8%
💡 Did you know?

Home of The Ohio State University, one of the largest college campuses in the United States.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.32% property · US 0.99%7.29% sales · US 7.00%2.75% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Homeownership44.1%8

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

44.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health19.8%13

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate18.1%23

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

18.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult smoking15.2%32

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Property-tax burden1.32%34

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.32% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Median household income$66,08238

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$66,082 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4540

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Physical inactivity25.5%48

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

25.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Uninsured adults9.7%48

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

9.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.6%51

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity34.7%51

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

34.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Housing cost$252,90056

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$252,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Air quality (AQI)County-level42 AQI57

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

42 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+4.1%58

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+4.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher38.2%66

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

38.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Commute time22 min66

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Broadband access93.6%66

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

93.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Rent$1,456/mo72

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,456/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level71/10074

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

71/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Columbus: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Columbus, OH a good place to live?
By the numbers, Columbus scores 50/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is homeownership. Ohio overall ranks #28 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Columbus, OH expensive to live in?
Columbus has a median home value of $252,900 and typical rent around $1,456/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Columbus, OH?
Its weakest measured area is homeownership (44.1%) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Columbus, OH best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (71/100) — 74/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Home of The Ohio State University, one of the largest college campuses in the United States.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.