Columbus OH

In Columbus, the rent-to-income burden runs around 24% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $66,082 and median rent is $1,295/month. 45% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $252,900 — that's 3.8× the median income. Employment picture: 5.11% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 18.1% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 22 minutes — acceptable. Average high 63.1°F, low 45.5°F. 7 days per year above 90°F. 50.6 inches of annual precipitation. Violent crime: 49.5/100k avg monthly rate (21643 reported); Property crime: 283.8/100k avg monthly rate (123998 reported). Columbus was founded in 1812 — that's 214 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 223.1 sq miles at 4,100 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 902 ft — modest elevation. Columbus has 14 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 66/100 — It Depends.