Columbus 76 Excellent
Columbus Livability #41 ranked city in Indiana#3,276 ranked city in the USARanks better than 88% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Columbus

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Ratings

    AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

New Real Estate Listings in Columbus Area
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What's it like Living in Columbus?

Columbus, Indiana is a mid-sized city with a population of 48,820 people. According to the most recent Census, 77% of Columbus residents are White, 13% Asian and 2% Black. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Columbus will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 18 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Columbus could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Indiana if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Columbus, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, education, employment and more.

The livability score in Columbus is 73 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 85th percentile of all cities across America. For each of the livability categories, we see that Columbus ranks very well for crime (B), cost of living (A) and housing (A+).

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Columbus market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Assuming that Columbus meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Columbus. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Columbus are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Columbus come in at $174,300, which is 37.8% higher than the Indiana average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Columbus, the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 4% higher than the Indiana average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Columbus

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Columbus?

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Compare Columbus, IN Livability

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      Columbus transportation information

      Statistic Columbus Indiana National
      Average one way commute18min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.2%83.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.4%8.9%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.4%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.0%2.1%2.8%
      Working from home5.9%3.5%4.6%
      Source: The Columbus, IN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).