Reasons Why People Are Moving to Columbus, Ohio

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Columbus, Ohio: The Midwest’s Hidden Gem 

At the crossroads of the Scioto River and the Olentangy in the wide Ohio plains, Columbus, Ohio, was never destined to be farmland like its neighbors — it was designed to be the center of state politics. This capital city of the Buckeye State has often flown below the radar, but what it lacks in celebrity makes up for in character, combining Midwestern congeniality with cultural depth. This is a city with great institutions, from the Lincoln Theatre and the Columbus Museum of Art to the National Veterans Memorial and the Columbus Metropolitan Library.  

Because Columbus’ demographics so closely mirror the nation’s, the city’s commercial nickname has long been Test Market U.S.A. Brands like the Gap, Bath & Body Works and Chipotle have found their ride-or-die customer base right here in the middle of the nation. Those retail empires — along with global giants like Honda and DHL and the research hub of the Ohio State University — have ensured a diverse, reliable job market for Buckeyes in the state’s political hub. It’s also not hard to see, then, how much the nation’s 14th-largest city (pop. 907,971) contributes to the U.S. GDP. After all, Ohio is the nation’s seventh-largest state economy. The biggest surprise in this overlooked area is that it’s fairly affordable to live here.  

There are myriad ways to enjoy yourself in this four-season city, from sledding at Highbanks Park in the winter to sunbathing on the lake beach at Alum Creek. Columbus’ network of parks, hiking trails and bike paths make this Midwestern city a prime spot for nature-lovers. But this LGBTQIA+-friendly metro is also one for foodies, activists, creative entrepreneurs, music fans, bookworms and artists.  

Whether you’re a fashion merchandiser, a biochemist or a fintech whiz, Columbus may be the best place for you to call your new home. Learn more about the city’s neighborhoods, economy, climate and recreational activities below, and check our pro-tips for moving to make your relocation a breeze.  

Want to learn more about living in Ohio? Check out our moving guide to the Buckeye State.  

Columbus’s Job Market: Diverse and Expanding

Columbus’s job market is dominated by three non-governmental industries: Trade, transportation and utilities (220,000 workers), professional and business services (187,000 workers), and education and health services (176,200 workers). The Ohio State University — one of the nation’s largest and most well-respected public institutions — has helped to keep employment numbers high in the industry, which grew by more than 5% between 2023 and 2024. Unemployment in Columbus has largely kept pace with the rest of America, and in March 2024, the rate stood at 4% — a recent high, but still a historical low.  

Columbus’ diverse commercial sectors are one of the reasons Ohio is America’s 7th-largest state economy. Companies from JP Morgan Chase to Honda, DHL, and Bath & Body Works all have their headquarters in Columbus, along with several other Fortune 1000s. That includes Huntington, a $194 billion-asset fintech giant dating back to 1866 that now operates 970 branches across 11 states. Whether you work in retail, life sciences or logistics, Columbus is a prime place to work.  

The dominance of the retail sector long ago established the city as Test Market U.S.A., and everyone from fast food joints to fashion uses Columbus’ microcosmic market as a litmus test for nationwide success or failure. 

Living in Columbus: Affordably Priced

For a central commercial and cultural hub, Columbus has a surprisingly low cost of living. The median home value is only $212,500 — nearly $70,000 below the national average — and rent averages just $1,161. But real estate isn’t the only common expense that Columbus residents will save on. Groceries, transportation and miscellaneous items are also less expensive in this central Ohio city, though healthcare and personal insurance/pensions will cost more.  

But what about income levels? Hourly wages for Columbus workers are marginally lower than the national average, but the median household income has a starker disparity. Columbus households earned an average of $62,994/year between 2018 and 2022, while U.S. households brought home more than $75,000/year. This leaves more Columbus residents below the poverty line — 18.1% compared to the U.S. rate of 11.5% — and far fewer of Columbus residents are homeowners. The owner-occupied housing rate in Columbus is 20 points below the U.S. average of 64.8%, putting it in the camp of far more expensive cities like Atlanta

Historic Charm: Columbus’s Neighborhoods

From the culturally rich downtown core to the quiet retreat of Columbus’ suburbs, this capital city has neighborhoods with character and community.  

With its quaint, brick streets and meticulously preserved homes, German Village is a popular place to live and hang out in in Columbus. This historic neighborhood is adjacent to the Brewery District, where German immigrant Louis Hoster first brewed the city’s suds before Prohibition ended the party. One area establishment somehow survived the teetotaling turn and the Great Depression – Schmidt’s Sausage House. This 1886 meatery is the best place to get your fix of sauerkraut-bratwurst balls, hot pretzel nuggets and Bavarian cabbage rolls. Other popular haunts include the divey Thurman’s Café, home of the 24-oz. Thurmanator, indie shops like the Book Loft and Winans Coffee & Chocolate — the best place to get some milk chocolate buckeyes. Along the river in nearby Scioto Audubon Park, families love the many activities this urban oasis provides — the nature center, the fishing dock, the obstacle course and the 35-foot climbing wall, and teenagers will love the bi-monthly late-night climbing hours, when they can be on belay until midnight.   

Just north of downtown, the aptly named Victorian Village is filled with elegant Queen Annes and prairie-style charmers, but there are also great multi-family units in the area. Modern townhomes, contemporary condos and quirky, repurposed buildings — particularly in the adjacent Short North Arts District — bring a balance of style and sensibility to the neighborhood. This close-knit, residential community is home to one of the city’s true public treasures — Goodale Park, the oldest park in Columbus, which dates back to the mid-19th-century. The park’s centerpiece is the Field of Corn fountain, a terraced form topped by two playful elephants, who periodically shower the natural stone beneath them with their snoots. Just east of Goodale, trendy boutiques and eateries like Forno Kitchen + Bar and Samson Men’s Emporium line the main drag along High Street, giving residents a great place to grab an early-morning coffee or a nightcap. 

With eclectic architectural appeal and more affordable prices, Olde Towne East is a warm, welcoming neighborhood just east of I-71. The Near East Side has dozens of amazing destinations, from the historic Lincoln Theatre to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Locally grown businesses are thriving in this diverse district. The East Market in Franklin Park is a place to grab your favorite food and drink, from craft cocktails at the Switch to shawarma from Saba or southern-style sandwiches at Just Chicken. Amongst the historic brick townhomes and single-families, stylish new condominiums have arisen, drawing more residents to this walkable residential area where they can grab their morning pick-me-up from Upper Cup and wind down after work at the Gemüt Biergarten. On the weekends, the Olde Towne East Community Gardens gives neighborhood green-thumbs a place to get their hands in the dirt. 

Note: If you’re thinking of moving to the Columbus area, it’s important to thoroughly research neighborhoods you might be interested in living. Before you decide where you are going to live, make sure you understand the area’s cost of living, commute time, tax rates, safety statistics and schooling information. 

A City Rich in Recreation

Outdoors

When you’re not visiting the city’s popular indoor attractions, like the Columbus Museum of Art, the Orton Geological Museum and the Jack Nicklaus Museum, the outdoor appeal of the city beckons you to explore.   

The rolling Scioto River is a prime avenue for outdoor adventure, where paddlers can take in the city from an amphibious viewpoint. Back on land, the Scioto River Mile — a downtown destination connecting nine urban parks — features public art, a fantastic fountain and splashpad and a bike and pedestrian pathway, where you can explore the best of the city and nature.  

To get a more immersive experience, take the family on a weekend camping and boating adventure in Alum Creek State Park, where the vast lake has a lovely sand beach and mountain bikers can show off their skills on 14 miles of trails. The Blacklick Woods are a forested haven for hikers, where beech, maples and bitternut hickories provide soothing shade.  

With its 100-foot-tall chinquapin oak, Sharon Woods is a favorite in all seasons. In the summer months, trailsides are giddy with native wildflowers, and kids are free to run wild in the nature play area — tree-climbing encouraged! In the wintertime, Sharon Woods opens two hills for sledding, one for tiny tots and another for more intrepid sliders.  

Columbus residents can really live it up at the city’s many annual events, like the Columbus Arts Festival, the Columbus Brew Fest and the African American Heritage Festival. Of course, the capital city’s main event is the Ohio State Fair — likely the state’s most popular 175-year-old tradition. The festivities include the expected fried delights and old-timey events like the lumberjack show and pig races. But newer acts have fast become fair favorites, like the Hip-Hop Juggler, whose high-style acts of equilibrium with sticks of fire and some very large knives could make quick work of the fair’s blue-ribbon tomatoes and funnel cakes.  

Sports 

When you live in a college town, pro-sports sometimes take a backseat to university games. And when the enrollment of that college exceeds 66,000 football-crazed fans, you don’t really miss the NFL so much. The Ohio State Buckeyes ended the 2023 season in second place, but only time will tell what the changes imposed under the new Flex Protect XVIII model will mean for the competition.  

When you’re not attending Buckeyes games, you can root on one of the oldest leagues in the MLS — the Columbus Crew SC. The 2024 season is starting out strong, with both Ohio teams in the top 5 of the Eastern Conference.  

The Columbus Blue Jackets — who only joined the NHL in 2000 — have had a bumpy, 24-year history in a league dating back to 1917, but with several serious chances in the post-season, it seems it’s only a matter of time before the Blue Jackets clinch their first cup. What can we say, we live on the optimistic side of the Scioto.  

Foods and Dining 

Columbus’s food scene might be the country’s best-kept culinary secret, but it’s no surprise to the residents in Test Market U.S.A. The city’s diverse population makes for a vibrant palette of palate-worthy plates, whether you’re in search of homey, comfort food standards or boundary-obliterating international fare.     

Columbus-style pizza hasn’t garnered the cult following of Chicago’s deep dish or Detroit’s pan pizzas, but this Midwestern pie has a lot to recommend it. Heavy on the toppings and easy on the dough, the sausage and mushrooms or even hot chicken and pickles on your pie will go all the way out to the edge, and the tavern-style cut basically eliminates the crust from every slice. The Pizza House is one of the oldest in the city — founded in 1961 — but longstanding Terita’s is equally hard to top. Josie’s earns points for its pepperoni quirkiness — covering the meat with cheese to seal in the juices. We prefer a little char on our toppings, and Josie’s is always happy to oblige.  

The natural partner to any pie is a pint, and Columbus brews up some fine craft beers. You can sample tons of suds at the annual Columbus Brew Festival or take a tour of the historic Brewery District near German Village, where you’ll visit restaurants that have local selections on tap.  

Our Columbus-born favorite, though, has to be Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. This charming creamery has now cemented itself in the frozen imaginations of American ice cream lovers far and wide. Pints of their darkest chocolate, powdered jelly donut and “high five candy bar” flavors now line frozen food aisles, and lines of hungry customers stand outside scoop shops in cities from Atlanta to Los Angeles. The original Jeni’s is still open at the North Market, where you can treat yourself to a breakfast cone, because they open at 9:00 a.m.  

Speaking of the North Market, if you really want to get in on the local food scene in the city, the 147-year-old establishment ought to be your first stop. Get some brisket burnt ends and collard greens from Barrel & Boar. How about a box of treats from Buckeye Donuts? Or kielbasa and pierogi from Hubert’s Polish Kitchen? Whether you want veggie samosas or baba ghanoush, the North Market has international flavors and locally grown provisions at the farmer’s market.  

One local specialty is not to be passed up — Katalina’s pancake balls. These poppable breakfast treats are just one of the things that keep us coming back to this singular brunch purveyor. It’s impossible to pin down the flavors to a single source at Katalina’s, and who needs to when you only need a knife and fork to enjoy dishes like the Loaded Latin-Leaning Okonomiyaki — a giant potato-cabbage-corn pancake topped with egg, scallion, and bacon bits, or the Pueblo BLT Sammy, made with local heirlooms and Beeler’s bacon, a heavenly, hickory-smoked import from Iowa.  

If these temptations have given you a taste for Columbus, let United Van Lines help you move. Learn below how we can make your relocation simple and hassle-free.  

Move to Columbus With America’s #1 Mover®

Looking for a way to simplify your upcoming move to Columbus, Ohio? Partner with United Van Lines, America’s #1 Mover.  

When you work with United Van Lines for your long-distance relocation to Columbus, Ohio, you’ll get all the benefits of our full-service moving packages for a hassle-free move across states. We offer customizable moving packages to cover all your needs, from packing and unpacking to storage services, car shipping and removing debris. More than a million families have relied on our century of experience to help them make a cross-country move. Get a moving quote for Columbus. 

United Van Lines can help you understand the different types of moving quotes you might receive and what the average cost of a long-distance move is. When you work with United Van Lines, you’ll know that you are working with reliable, professional long-distance movers you can trust.   

Stay a step ahead with our step-by-step guide to moving long-distance

Wanting to tackle some parts of the move yourself? Follow these packing tips and our helpful moving checklists to ensure everything is accounted for.

Still shopping around for a new city to call home? Our state guides provide insights into 40+ states and cities. Want to plan a little R&R once your move is underway? Find the best places to break away in our national parks guides.  

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