Columbus is becoming the new place to live, at least for millennials. It has one of the largest populations of this age group in the country. Reasonable prices for renting and buying residences and a good amount of entertainment are two good reasons. The Ohio State University is also a draw, with more than 55,000 students at the main campus. With just over two million people, there is quite a diversity of cultures, and, of course, dining. The Columbus Blue Jackets provide professional hockey thrills for the area, and the Crew for professional soccer. The OSU Buckeyes won the national football championship in 2014, putting them on the map again, years after Woody Hayes ruled the roost.
Employment in Columbus is no worse than most places and better than many. Chase Bank employs more than 20,000 people and Nationwide more than 13,000, for starters. Honda has almost 11,000 employees, and L Brands and Cardinal Health together provide almost 13,000 jobs. There are 50 other nationally known companies that employ thousands more and many smaller businesses beyond that. Bus lines and taxi cabs are common sights in Columbus, but it is primarily a car-driving town for work and leisure.
The cost of living in Columbus is lower than the national average and lower than the state of Ohio average. The weather is also tolerable with four distinct seasons but not vicious winters, at least not usually. People are mobile all year, with a day off here and there for ice.
Some of the best places in Columbus include the nationally rated Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Franklin Park Conservatory. Indoor and outdoor exhibits in both places allow for year round visits. Jack Hanna put the zoo on the map and visits regularly. Other places of note include German Village with loads of history and The Short North with loads of art.
There are many different neighborhoods in town that would qualify as the best places to live in Columbus. Upper Arlington, home of Jack Nicklaus of golf world fame, Bexley, Grandview, Clintonville, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Olde Towne East and downtown. There is so much new housing going up all over the city, the list of choices is long.
AreaVibes is a resource to check out for information about Columbus, Ohio. Cities and neighborhoods are graded based on our Livablity Score. The top score is 100, so if a city gets anything above 80, it's considered a great place to live. Crime, education, housing and employment figure into the score and areas can be sorted according to what factors are most important to you.