The Short North.

Columbus has been growing steadily its entire existance. The past 10 years have seen its fastest growth ever, however.
The city is attracting new residents not just from other parts of Ohio, but from across the United States and world. 50% of its overall growth is made up by either domestic migration or immigration from other nations.

There is now a steady stream of prospective residents in search for answers about the city and metro area. Hopefully, this post provides some of those desired answers.

Let’s look at some of the most common questions and attempt to provide the necessary information.

1. What are the most desirable places to live in Columbus?
The answer to this question depends on what someone is searching for. For this question, we’ll base the answer on 5 categories- affordability, walkability, safety, schools and access to amenities. Based on these topics, here are the most-recommended urban neighborhoods.

Click on any neighborhood to find out more information.

1. The Short North, including Italian Village and Victorian Village
Arguably the heart of Columbus’ urban core, the Short North is one of the most complete Midwest urban neighborhoods outside Chicago. While it has tons of amenities and walkability, a few potential negatives include the lack of parking and higher housing costs.
2. German Village and the Brewery District
German Village is one of the largest historic districts in the United States. Its preserved 19th Century brick buildings and streets, walkable amenities and landscaped parks make it one of Columbus’ most uniquely beautiful neighborhoods. However, all that beauty can come with higher housing prices and very strict preservation rules.
3. Downtown and the Arena District
The Downtown area, which includes the Arena District, is a rapidly growing area with tons of new housing and entertainment amenities. It is very walkable and the central hub of the city’s transit system.
4. Clintonville
Located just north of the massive Ohio State Campus, Clintonville is a larger, more family-oriented neighborhood with quality housing and decent schools.
5. Merion Village, Schumacher Place, Franklinton, Weinland Park, Olde Towne East, Westgate and Old North Columbus
These neighborhoods are for those who are okay with neighborhoods in transition. They are more affordable than the top 4, but also in various stages of revitalization. These neighborhoods provide some of the best long-term investment opportunities so long as you can look past some grit.

Based on the same criteria, here are the most-recommended suburbs.

1. Dublin
This outer northwest suburb has a great mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods, with plenty of options for most tastes. Great schools and a one of the most diverse suburban populations make Dublin a popular choice. Negatives include a general lack of transit and higher housing costs.
2. Bexley
Bexley is one of the oldest inner suburbs in the city. Its attractive older homes and beautiful tree-lined streets are right out of a John Hughes film. Great schools and walkable retail corridors make this suburb highly desirable. However, negatives include high property taxes and higher housing costs.
3. Grandview Heights
Grandview is another more urban inner suburb with a great mix of quality housing stock and amenities. Schools are also very good. Negatives include a very tight housing market that make finding a home difficult, along with higher costs.
4. Upper Arlington
This inner suburb is well known for its terrific schools and quality of life. It is more suburban in nature than other inner suburbs, and therefore a negative is its general lack of walkability to amenities. The cost of housing is generally higher.
5. Westerville
Westerville is a northern, outer traditional suburb. Positives include a nice, walkable downtown area and much less expensive housing the other suburbs on the list.

This list of urban and suburban places is just a starter list and is not to be limiting.

2. What are the best ways to find somewhere to live?
Beyond going with a realtor or doing internet searches, the best way to find somewhere to live is to visit your preferred neighborhood. Some house and apartments may not be advertised online, specifically those sales being managed by the owner. Another potential way is to visit local neighborhood social media sites to see if anyone has advertised their home or apartment. With the extremely fast-moving Columbus market, thinking outside the box can be beneficial.

As for more traditional ways of finding a house or apartment, here are some helpful resources.
The Columbus Land Bank Center
Columbus Realtors
Zillow
Realtor

3. What are some resources to help immigrate to Columbus from another country?
Because immgration is a large part of Columbus’ growth, resources for immigrants are also readily available. Here are some of the most useful for prospective and recent immigrants to Columbus.
Community Refugee and Immigraton Services
New Americans Initiative
US Citizenship and Immigration Services

4. Where can I find more information about the city and its quality of life?
For many more links on Columbus activities, local government, schools and much more, check out the Columbus Links and Resources