Columbus, OH
Columbus is the third largest city in the Midwest, and it houses a seemingly endless array of corporate offices, warehouses, and shopping centers. The city prides itself on being the industrial heartland of the United States, although it is also known for excellent education, food and research. The city is spread out over a large area and those from rural locations don't have much difficulty transitioning into the city life here. Columbus is an excellent choice for those moving from larger cities, or smaller towns and the friendly locals make it feel like home in a short amount of time.
Columbus is known for its industrial focus, and is home to the corporate headquarters of large companies such as L Brands, Kroger and Wendy's, just to name a few. Although much of the city has that industrial feeling, there are quite a few parks and museums in the area as well. Some of the most famous include the Columbus Museum of Art and Highbanks Metro Park, which has over 10 miles of hiking trails. If shopping is your hobby, you can find all you need in Easton Town Center, which has over 200 stores and restaurants. For those wishing to raise a family in Columbus, there are many excellent schools to choose. As for higher education, Ohio State University is one of the best colleges in the country.
Columbus does experience a bit of a rush hour between 4 and 6, but is otherwise free of traffic. Public transportation in the city is one of the biggest cons: it does exist, but the only option is buses which have not been upgraded in quite some time. Most people consider it essential to own a car in this city for that reason and Columbus' streets were built with private automobile transportation in mind.
Compared to other cities, the cost of living in Columbus is relatively low. The average apartment costs only around $1,000 and there are of course plenty of supermarkets and fast food restaurants to find deals on essentials. Gas and parking is also particularly cheap in this area of the US, making owning a car in Columbus generally inexpensive. The only problem with these lower costs is that the minimum wage of Columbus is currently hovering around $8.50 an hour and it shows no indication of being increased in the near term.
Columbus is an excellent city for those wanting a calm lifestyle. Many parts of the city are quiet and low-crime and the majority of people are exceedingly friendly. Those hoping to start a family would likely be very happy with their decision to move here, though it has the potential of being a home for anyone interested.