What are the schools like in Columbus, OH?

Columbus is served primarily by Columbus City Schools District. The district operates 73 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 22 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Columbus?

The median household income in Columbus, OH is $62,994 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Columbus, OH?

Columbus has an average high temperature of 36.5°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

Columbus, OH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Columbus, OH affordable or expensive?

Columbus's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Columbus is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $212,500 and the median rent is $1,161 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Columbus, OH?

Columbus has a violent crime rate of 434.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2653.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Columbus, OH a Good Place to Live?

Columbus is a large city of 902,449 in Ohio, with a median household income of $62,994 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Columbus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Columbus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Columbus city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 94.5

Columbus's overall cost of living index is 94.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Columbus costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Columbus, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$212,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,161	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,994	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Columbus's violent crime rate is 434.9 per 100,000 residents — 14% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

434.9 /100k

Property Crime

2653.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Columbus is served primarily by Columbus City Schools District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbus, OH	National Avg
School District	Columbus City Schools District	—
Elementary Schools	73	—
Middle Schools	18	—
High Schools	22	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbus sees average highs of 36.5°F in January and 85.0°F in July, with 42.2 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Columbus, OH
Average High — January	36.5°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	42.2"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Columbus, OH	National Avg
Population	902,449	—
Median Age	32.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	54.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	29.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.3%	18.9%
Asian	5.8%	6.3%
Under 18	21.9%	22.2%
65 and over	10.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grandview Heights, OH 3 mi Bexley, OH 3 mi Marble Cliff, OH 4 mi Valleyview, OH 5 mi Upper Arlington, OH 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbus

Columbus, OH is covered by 34 ZIP codes:

43207 43228 43219 43235 43232 43229 43137 43110 43204 43224 43214 43223 43213 43215 43211 43119 43227 43209 43231 43201 43206 43202 43240 43205 43004 43212 43210 43203 43222 43035 43217 43002 43109 43218

Columbus vs Other Cities

Columbus, OH vs Grandview Heights, OH Columbus, OH vs Bexley, OH Columbus, OH vs Marble Cliff, OH Columbus, OH vs Valleyview, OH Columbus, OH vs Upper Arlington, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus, OH affordable or expensive?

Columbus's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Columbus roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $212,500 and median rent is $1,161/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbus, OH?

Columbus's violent crime rate is 434.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2653.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Columbus?

Public schools in Columbus are operated by Columbus City Schools District. The district has 73 elementary, 18 middle, and 22 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 38.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbus, OH a good place to live?

Columbus, OH has a population of 902,449, a median household income of $62,994, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Columbus?

Columbus averages 36.5°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.2 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbus?

Columbus, OH is covered by 34 ZIP codes: 43207, 43228, 43219, 43235, 43232, 43229, 43137, 43110, 43204, 43224, 43214, 43223, 43213, 43215, 43211, 43119, 43227, 43209, 43231, 43201, 43206, 43202, 43240, 43205, 43004, 43212, 43210, 43203, 43222, 43035, 43217, 43002, 43109, 43218.

What is the population of Columbus?

The population of Columbus, Ohio is 902,449 with a median age of 32.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Columbus?

Key numbers for living in Columbus: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $212,500, median household income $62,994, crime index 119 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Columbus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.