Columbus, OH Metro Area

Columbus, OH · Metro Area

2,175,788Population

A metropolitan statistical area of 10 counties (3 central, 7 outlying), part of the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH combined area. The counties are tied together by commuting: people live in one and work in another.

Median household income: $81,945
Median home value: $300,800
Land area: 4,797 sq mi

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Counties in this metro area

Central counties hold the urban core; outlying counties are linked to it by commuting.

County	Role	Population	Median income	Median home value
Franklin County, OH	Central	1,333,048	$75,176	$288,400
Delaware County, OH	Central	226,834	$133,540	$445,500
Licking County, OH	Outlying	181,837	$84,426	$275,200
Fairfield County, OH	Central	163,453	$90,966	$298,800
Union County, OH	Outlying	67,324	$112,322	$344,900
Pickaway County, OH	Outlying	60,131	$74,040	$256,800
Madison County, OH	Outlying	44,423	$87,045	$250,100
Perry County, OH	Outlying	35,535	$67,460	$191,100
Morrow County, OH	Outlying	35,404	$75,283	$222,300
Hocking County, OH	Outlying	27,799	$62,960	$186,400

Largest cities and towns

286 places in our city pages lie in this area; the 25 largest are shown.

Place	Type	Population	Median income
Columbus, OH	City	914,802	$66,082
Newark, OH	City	50,783	$61,670
Dublin, OH	City	49,294	$160,296
Violet, OH	—	48,117	$122,471
Jackson, OH	—	47,984	$91,817
Delaware, OH	City	44,589	$99,786
Grove City, OH	City	42,517	$93,161
Lancaster, OH	City	41,249	$59,133
Reynoldsburg, OH	City	41,224	$72,972
Orange, OH	—	39,987	$146,212
Westerville, OH	City	38,645	$109,404
Norwich, OH	—	38,358	$130,801
Hilliard, OH	City	38,033	$128,189
Mifflin, OH	—	37,863	$104,427
Upper Arlington, OH	City	36,293	$155,167
Gahanna, OH	City	35,486	$109,061
Liberty, OH	—	33,773	$186,707
Truro, OH	—	30,584	$65,999
Paris, OH	—	29,129	$92,127
Marysville, OH	City	27,518	$92,619
Genoa, OH	—	26,510	$176,937
Madison, OH	—	26,314	$89,239
Pickerington, OH	City	24,477	$111,833
Whitehall, OH	City	20,019	$51,759
Etna (Township), OH	—	19,377	$102,813

Also in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH combined area

Zanesville, OH · micro · 86,411 Chillicothe, OH · micro · 76,492 Marion, OH · micro · 65,020 Mount Vernon, OH · micro · 63,142 Athens, OH · micro · 61,737 Bellefontaine, OH · micro · 46,089 Cambridge, OH · micro · 38,223 Washington Court House, OH · micro · 28,876

Demographic Rates

Poverty Rate

12.3%

Unemployment

4.1%

College Educated

39.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1701, S2301, S1501

Race & Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B02001, B03003

Income Profile

Median Household Income

$81,945

Mean Household Income

$110,926

Income Distribution

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S1902, S1903, B19013, B19113

Sex Distribution

Male

49.6%

Female

50.4%

Population Split

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

The sex distribution of a population provides insight into the demographic balance of a community. Significant skews in this ratio can be influenced by local industries (e.g., military bases, mining, or tech hubs), educational institutions, or migration patterns. Understanding this balance is essential for planning public health initiatives and social services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Ancestry

German19.7%

Irish12.1%

English11.6%

Italian5.0%

African3.7%

Mexican2.5%

Polish2.1%

Scottish2.1%

French1.4%

Reported ancestry groups representing the cultural heritage of the population. Percentages may not sum to 100% as residents may report multiple ancestries or none.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B04006

Immigration & Nativity

Nativity Status

10.0%Foreign Born

90.0%Native Born

Citizenship Status

Naturalized50.7%

Non-Citizen49.3%

Period of Entry

2010 or Later47.5%

Before 201052.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B05001, B05002

Housing Characteristics

Total Housing Units

926,466

Median Rent

$1,274/mo

Median Home Value

$300,800

Median Year Built

1982

Housing Tenure

Housing Types

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table DP04

Education Enrollment

Total Enrolled

533,683

College Enrollment

19.5%

High School

21.3%

College Educated

39.8%

K-12 Enrollment

Higher Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1401, S1501

Transportation & Commute

Mean Commute Time

23.6 min

Drive Alone Rate

70.0%

Public Transit

1.1%

Work From Home

18.8%

Commute Mode

Vehicle Ownership

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0801, B08141

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.3%

18-34 Years

24.2%

35-64 Years

38.2%

65+ Years

14.3%

Population Composition

Under 1823.3%

18-3424.2%

35-6438.2%

65+14.3%

The age distribution of a community impacts local services, school requirements, and the labor market. A higher percentage of youth suggests a need for schools and family services, while a larger senior population may indicate a retirement destination or a need for healthcare services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Household Composition

Married Couples

45.0%

Single Parent

6.9%

Living Alone

29.6%

Avg Size

2.46

Household Types

Married Couples45.0%

Single Parent6.9%

Living Alone29.6%

Household composition offers insights into the social fabric of a community. A high percentage of married couples often correlates with stability and higher household incomes, while a significant number of single-person households may indicate a younger transient population or an aging community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1101

Economic Profile

Per Capita Income

$44,770

SNAP Usage

10.2%

Health Insurance

92.4%

Household Income Breakdown

Under $25k13.0%

$25k - $50k16.9%

$50k - $100k29.0%

$100k+41.1%

Key Industries

Manufacturing

8.8%

Retail Trade

11.1%

Education & Health Care

24.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S2201, DP03

Health & Disability

Disability Rate

12.2%With Disability

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability.

Health Insurance Coverage

92.4%With Coverage

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with health insurance coverage.

Why this matters: High disability rates may indicate a need for accessible infrastructure and specialized healthcare services. Health insurance coverage is a key indicator of a community's access to preventative care and financial resilience against medical emergencies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1810, S2701

Technology Access

Broadband Internet

93.6%vs ~90% National Avg

Computer Ownership

96.6%vs ~95% National Avg

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S2801

Cost of Living & Housing

Cost of Living Scale

Lower is better

95.5

0130

Below average< 97

Near average97 - 103

Above average> 103

Prices compared with the US average (100). 105 means about 5% more expensive than average.

Housing Affordability

Higher is better

140.0

0200

Hard to Afford< 80

Moderate80 - 100

Affordable> 100

100 means a family earning the median family income just qualifies to buy the median-value home (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.72%).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities · NAR affordability formula with Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes and home values and the Freddie Mac 30-year rate (2024)

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