Columbus vs Upper Arlington
Columbus, Ohio versus Upper Arlington, Ohio: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Upper Arlington edges out Columbus on overall objective livability (53 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Columbus | Upper Arlington |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $63k | $145k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $48k |
| Home Value | $213k | $527k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.43% | 1.82% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 7.24% | 7.24% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.22% | 15.00% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 2.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 29°F | 29°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2 in | 44.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2 in | 19.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 168 days | 168 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 95 days | 100 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 44.2 | 27.4 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 87.2 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2272/100k | 117/100k |
| Property Crime | 3514/100k | 1021/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 902,449 | 36,500 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 40.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.60 | 0.24 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 1.00 |
| Political Leaning | D+32 | D+32 |
| White (%) | 53.1% | 85.2% |
| Black (%) | 29.0% | 0.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.7% | 3.1% |
| Asian (%) | 5.8% | 7.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.5% | 3.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 17.5/20 | 10.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 5 mi | 10 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.3% | 97.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 11.95 | 244.93 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Columbus or Upper Arlington more affordable?
- Upper Arlington has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Columbus's $48k and Upper Arlington's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Columbus versus $1k in Upper Arlington.
- Is Columbus or Upper Arlington safer?
- Upper Arlington has the lower violent crime rate. Columbus reports 2272/100k and Upper Arlington reports 117/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Columbus or Upper Arlington?
- The median home value is $213k in Columbus and $527k in Upper Arlington, so homes are more affordable in Columbus.