Over the past 10 years, the city of Columbus, Ohio, has become a real estate heaven. In 2018, Forbes
online reported that Columbus has become the 14th largest city in the country, and is experiencing a growth of over 10%. With those numbers, if you are planning on moving to “Cbus” you will be in good company.
Low Cost of Living and Diverse Job Market
The cost of living in Columbus is below the national average, sitting below by 10%, according to AreaVibes.com. When it comes to housing, healthcare, and utilities, Columbus is cheaper than the rest of the nation significantly.
Columbus has a diversified economy which makes it an amazing performer in the Midwest. It is also ranked in the top 100 metro areas in the country, making the move to Columbus a safe and smart option.
According to ColumbusRegion.com, there are many industries that continue to thrive, such as:
- Data Centers
- Finance and Insurance
- Automotive
- Food and Beverage
- Logistics
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Research and Development
- Fashion and Apparel
Columbus’s strong job market often features over five jobs for each candidate. Some of the top employers in the area include:
- OhioHealth
- JP Morgan Chase & Co
- Ohio State University
- Nationwide
- State of Ohio
Columbus is not a Cowtown
Over the years, Columbus has undergone some big changes. In the late 1980s, it still had remnants of a small town.
Columbus is the capital city of Ohio, and was once referred to as “Cow Town,” since it was the foundation of agriculture. City leaders wanted to grow past this and have the city become the capital city status it was, maybe they were tired of people thinking that the capital of the state was either Cincinnati or Cleveland. The increase of festivals and local businesses are making this city boom and grow.
Eating and Becoming Popular Nationwide
Columbus has a diverse demographic that closely matches other cities in the U.S. for the last couple of decades. This makes Cbus the perfect barometer for the nation. The city has historically served as a test area for menus in the fast-food industry. Serving up hot drinks and snacks for the large coffee company Starbucks and other brands.
While the changing in how testimonials have changed over time, Columbus remains the hot test market it is today. Businesses and large corporations across the country take Columbus residents’ opinions seriously.
Columbus is an Expansive City
The city of Columbus covers over 240 miles, allowing for a large diversity of neighborhoods and other mini regions where you may choose to live. This city really has it all. You will find anything from growing downtown condominium market for urban living to the most rural of suburbs.
Here are some of the most beloved neighborhoods in Columbus:
Downtown
This area was once known as the Columbus’s civic and business district, but it has now become equally know for the residential center as well. High-rises, condos, and townhomes started to appear all over the city over the last couple of decades. Downtown has become very attractive due to the proximity to work and the urban lifestyle.
The Short North
This neighborhood located just north of downtown, is the city’s premier art district. It features many boutique art galleries. This area also includes other neighborhoods like Victorian Village and Italian Village.
During the beginning of the month, these combined neighborhoods hot the Gallery Hop. Local visitors and residents from around the world visit this popular event. People hop from one gallery to the next, all while passing many street performers and musicians along the way.
At Goodale Park, in the heart of the Short North, the community holds ComFest. This is a three-day festival the brings local and regional musicians, artists, and food vendors.
If you are looking for Victorian style homes, then this is the area you want to look. Many of the homes are purchased and restored to their original architecture. The residents are committed to sustaining the aesthetics and sensibilities of keeping up their homes.
German Village
The area south of Downtown Columbus is know as the German Village, and yes, this is another historic neighborhood. And yes, with a name of German Village, it was originally settled by German immigrants in the 1800s.
Most properties here consist of red brick homes, brick streets, and wrought-iron fences. Many of the streets still have the red bricks. German Village is a more relaxed atmosphere along these beautiful tree lined streets. The centerpiece to this neighborhood is Schiller Park, with its recreation center, tennis courts, and a stage area that shows Shakespearian plays about two to three times in the summer.
More Neighborhoods to Explore
If you are single or are a young family, then you will want to look at these neighborhoods:
- Clintonville
- Dodge Park
- Grandview
- Old Towne East
These are popular neighborhoods. They are also hip and trendy areas of Columbus.
If living in the suburbs is more of your taste and do not mind a commute, then you will be a fan of Bexley Whitehall, Easton, Grove City, and Worthington. These communities are great for growing families, retirees, and working couples.
Public Transportation
Columbus is still a car town. However, it does feature a public transportation system that covers major areas of the city and everywhere in between. German Village and Short North residents get a great benefit called Cbus, which is free and makes frequent trips throughout the day to help ease the congestion and solves many parking issues in busy areas.
If you will be commuting to work, then you will expect an average of 22 minutes, which is way better than cities like Houston or Atlanta. If you need to drive, then you will not have as much stress and it will not be too time-consuming.
Green Spaces
If you are an outdoors lover, Columbus features many green spaces where you can bike, hike, walk, and swim.
Some key areas to enjoy including Olentangy Greenway, which has multiple paths that runs along the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. There is also the Alum Creek Greenway, which is located just east of downtown, and runs along, you guessed it, the Alum Creek. At the northern tip of the greenway is Alum Creek State Park, which does allow swimming, fishing, and hiking. It is also a great spot to have a family picnic.
Schools in Columbus
The city is served by the Columbus Public School System. Each neighborhood does have its own school, which helps with overcrowding and helps facilitate a peak learning environment.
Then there is the best-known college of Ohio, Ohio State University. There are other higher learning schools located in Columbus that attract students from all over.
Other Colleges:
- Franklin University
- Capital University
- Columbus College of Art & Design
- Columbus Community College
- Otterbein University
- Ohio Dominican University
- DeVry University
Columbus Entertainment and Food
You will have a wide range of activities and events to suit your needs. A night out for Columbus residents may include local playhouse, musical concert, movie night at a local multiplex, or heading to an NHL or MLS game.
One of the resident’s favorite experiences is dining out. Thanks to the city’s multi-cultural blend, you can enjoy some of the finest cuisines from around the world.
Housing Market
The housing market in Columbus is competitive. Homes prices for homes is well below the national average, sitting at around $190,000. Mixing that with the low cost of living and attractive job market, Columbus is an affordable city.