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Columbus, OH

Sunbury is part of the Columbus area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Columbus

Downtown Columbus View from Main St Bridge
Downtown Columbus View from Main St Bridge · Photo: Paul Wasneski, Public domain
Birds eye view of Columbus, Ohio
Main Library
Main Library · Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Central High School
Central High School · Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Co Go Columbus
Co Go Columbus · Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Columbus, OH Spring St
Columbus, OH Spring St · Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Columbus, Ohio JJ
Columbus, Ohio JJ · Photo: Jsjessee, CC BY-SA 2.0
Columbus, Ohio JJ
Columbus, Ohio JJ · Photo: Jsjessee, CC BY-SA 2.0
Columbus City Hall
Columbus City Hall · Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Columbus Museum of Art
Columbus Museum of Art · Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Columbus at night
Columbus at night · Photo: Jsjessee, CC BY-SA 2.0
Columbus municipal buildings
Columbus municipal buildings · Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Where it is
Columbus
Columbus in Ohio
Ohio in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Columbus area.

32
grocery stores
200+
restaurants
138
coffee shops
200+
parks
163
playgrounds
30
libraries
6
movie theaters
23
live theaters
14
museums
43
bookstores
42
gyms
172
bars
28
pharmacies
9
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Columbus area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
89 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
144 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 321,199 rented homes in the Columbus area, 92% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 29%
$1,000 to $1,499: 44%
$1,500 to $1,999: 18%
$2,000 to $2,499: 5%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Columbus area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Your first weeks in Ohio

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Ohio DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Ohio voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

Central High School
Central High School · Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0

17 public school districts in this county, with about 172,805 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Columbus City Schools District · Columbus
45,338 students · 14.9 students per teacher · 118 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Hilliard City · Columbus
16,082 students · 16.7 students per teacher · 24 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Hamilton Local · Columbus
3,082 students · 20.5 students per teacher · 5 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Grandview Heights Schools · Columbus
1,144 students · 14.1 students per teacher · 3 schools · grades K to 12
Metro Early College High School · Columbus
876 students · 19.5 students per teacher · 1 school · grades 6 to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Ohio keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Ohio →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

16 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Columbus. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus
Public, 4-year · 60,046 students · $12,859 in-state, $38,365 out-of-state
Columbus State Community College · Columbus
Public, 2-year (community college) · 26,663 students · $5,338 in-state, $10,917 out-of-state
Franklin University · Columbus
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 8,697 students · $9,577 a year
Capital University · Columbus
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,388 students · $41,788 a year
Otterbein University · Westerville
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,357 students · $34,899 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$330,327
What a typical home sells for across the Columbus area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
24 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $2,118 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in OH. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively High
Hail is a real cost here: roof claims are common and some insurers charge a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail. Covered parking helps protect a car.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
9 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
24.6 per 100,000 people a year
334 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. OH average: 19.7 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$73,795
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.55% of home value a year
About $1,550 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 2.75%
OH's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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