“The fastest-growing city in the Midwest, Columbus is a microcosm of a larger employment trend that Michael Stull has observed lately. ‘Companies are moving to where people are, as opposed to people moving to where companies are,” he says. ‘The Columbuses, the Pittsburghs, the Baltimores are being able to compete with jobs.’”
– Forbes.com
Ranked #1 among the largest Midwest metros for:
- Population growth (U.S. Census Bureau)
- Job growth (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Wage growth (U.S. Department of Labor)
- “With a revitalized riverfront and booming downtown, Columbus is already one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.” – The New York Times
- Columbus is among the top 10 U.S. metros for concentration of young professionals (age 25-34) and the only metro with this distinction located in the eastern half of the country.
- “One of the best cities for Gen Z.” – The New York Times, 2022
- “Columbus is a top 10 place for millennials to live and work.” – The New York Times, 2020
- “If there’s one thing we know about the Midwest now, it’s to stop expecting certain things from the Midwest, and certainly not Ohio’s capital city, which has a nearly Sun Belt-esque buoyancy about it these days, as it welcomes all-comers, from all over the world, into the ever-growing fold.” – Food & Wine
- “A youthful, entrepreneurial energy has fueled a lot of changes in Ohio’s capital, a fashion design hub (you read that right) brimming with creative restaurants, craft breweries, distilleries and small-batch coffee roasters” – The Chicago Tribune
- Columbus scored 100/100 on The Municipal Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign, which includes measures of employment, housing, and public attitudes toward the LGBTQ community
- “Columbus dishes up a concoction of culture, sport, art, and entertainment to suit every style…” – TourScanner
- "There’s little doubt Columbus, Ohio is becoming one of the fastest growing tech hubs – not just in the Midwest, but in the country.” – TechCrunch
- Top 10 U.S. city for work-life balance – SmartAsset
- “One of the nation’s best metro areas for the arts.” – Places Rated Almanac
- Named a No. 1 opportunity city for startups by Forbes
Just the Facts
It’s affordable
A dollar goes further here. Columbus was the 9th most affordable U.S. city in 2022. The cost of living is 5.8% below the national average, and our average rent and home prices will leave you pleasantly surprised. As of March 2023, the median monthly rent was $1,327 for one bedroom and $1,541 for two bedrooms. You don’t have to live far from the city’s center to get a great deal, either—our commutes are actually shorter than the U.S. average.
Explore our neighborhoods to find an address that suits your style.
It’s welcoming
Columbus is a city that invites and embraces cultural and economic diversity. Our residents speak 80+ languages, and we’re one of the most diverse Midwestern cities, highlighted by large Japanese, Korean and Indian populations and the second-largest Somali population in the U.S. We’re also home to the 15th largest LGBTQ population among U.S. cities and have the largest Pride celebration in the Midwest.
It’s thriving
One of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Columbus is the 14th largest city in the United States and the second largest in the Midwest behind Chicago. We’re home to an impressive list of employers and celebrated for our job creation. Oh, and we know how to have fun: Our arts and entertainment options will keep your calendar fully booked while our acclaimed food scene will satisfy your cravings from sushi to schnitzel. If you’re into sports, we’ve got professional hockey and soccer teams as well as a college football program you may have heard about.
It’s smart
Home to an expanding number of startup businesses in addition to five Fortune 500 and 16 Fortune 1000 companies, Columbus harbors a spirit of innovation that attracts the best and brightest. We also produce brilliant minds at the 52 colleges and universities in central Ohio our top-ranked public and private schools. Learn more by searching Ohio’s School Report Cards.