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Columbus, OH

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Columbus, OH

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 64
Population906,480
Foreign Born7.7%
Population Density4,085people per mi²
Median Age33.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

96/100

4% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Columbus, Ohio

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $20k$37k
Comfortable $46k$67k
Luxury $113k+$176k+
Elite (Top 5%) $133k+$207k+
Affordability Ratio

98%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean86%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
4
Negative
18

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.1mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Hospital

20 within 20 miles

1.3mi

Airport

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

5mi

Post Office

USPS — Columbus, OH

1mi

Critical Amenities

Golf9Nearest 5 mi
Camping15Nearest 14.2 mi
Marina0Nearest 14.8 mi
Winery1Nearest 1.7 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range3Nearest 0.6 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$65k+3.7%
13% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$503k
23% below US avg
College Educated
38.2%
9% above US avg
WFH
16.1%
13% above US avg
Homeownership
44.3%
32% below US avg
Median Home
$235k
17% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D+
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 65% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
28.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−35.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−45.4%
Homicide
0.09 / 1k Residents107% above state avg
Robbery
1.03 / 1k Residents173% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.57 / 1k Residents10% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−26.0%
Burglary
3.82 / 1k Residents118% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
16.40 / 1k Residents69% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
4.81 / 1k Residents175% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+21Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Columbus, Ohio
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak10.0% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (40% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season191 days260 frost-free
Annual Rainfall50.6"
Elevation797 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D-
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor1.8 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor4,085/sq mi
Fallout Danger
F
Poor8 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Cold Wave, Tornado, Heat Wave, Earthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 208 mi · coast 415 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$331.4M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityColumbus906k people are 1.8 mi away
Nearest Major Airport5.0 miHub-class commercial airport
Distance to State Capital1.8 miColumbus, OH
Nearest Prison2.1 mi6 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T09:41:20.000Z

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