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METRO AREA

Columbus Metro

Columbus, OH · 10 counties · 2,242,028 residents (2025 est.) · 4,797.369 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#32Largest by populationof 9252,242,028#43Most work-from-homeof 92518.7%
The short version

Columbus has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,300. Population has grown 30% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $300,581. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,175,788
+30%since 2000
from 1,675,013 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
454 / sq mi
+30%since 2000
from 349 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.9
+9%since 2000
from 33.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,242,028 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1.4M1.6M1.8M2.0M2.2M1990201020202024Columbus
20242.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,300
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,759 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,770
+98%since 2000
from $22,596 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.2%
+21.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
+2%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade8.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration7.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$300,581
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $117,477 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,256
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $571 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
38.0% rent
Vacancy rate
6.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+36%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
74
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbus on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.7%(1,368,987)
Black12.3%(206,047)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(28,883)
Asian2.2%(36,667)
Other0%
Diversity Score35.9%(601,138)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic68.2%(1,482,822)
Black15.9%(346,312)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(122,500)
Asian5%(109,500)
Other5.3%(114,654)
Diversity Score62.7%(1,364,574)
Segregation Score44.4%(966,306)
Diversity Score
63
+75%since 2000
from 36 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
44
−6%since 2020
from 47 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 27.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+54%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.2%
−12.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.7%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 68.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.1%
−20.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
10.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2017
from 82.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.0%
−3.6 ptssince 2016
from 90.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

ColumbusCENTRAL938,396
What's inside

10 component counties

Franklin CountyCENTRAL1,361,536Delaware CountyCENTRAL242,032Licking County185,564Fairfield CountyCENTRAL169,752Union County73,446Pickaway County62,978Madison County46,985Morrow County36,305Perry County35,918Hocking County27,512
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Columbus

Indianapolis
Pop 2,205,695
Kansas City
Pop 2,270,682
Cincinnati
Pop 2,312,858
Nashville
Pop 2,197,416
Places similar to Columbus
Head to head

Compare Columbus side by side

COLUMBUS VS
Indianapolis
Income$83,841−1%
Home value$270,686−10%
Population2,205,695−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Kansas City
Income$85,452+1%
Home value$286,452−5%
Population2,270,682+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Cincinnati
Income$82,044−3%
Home value$259,229−14%
Population2,312,858+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBUS VS
Nashville
Income$88,637+5%
Home value$432,778+44%
Population2,197,416−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbus, OH?

Columbus, OH has about 2,175,788 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbus, OH?

The typical household in Columbus, OH earns about $84,300 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbus, OH expensive?

In Columbus, OH, the median home is worth about $300,581, and the typical rent is about $1,256 a month.

How educated are people in Columbus, OH?

About 39.9% of adults age 25 and over in Columbus, OH hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbus, OH?

About 12.2% of people in Columbus, OH live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbus, OH grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbus, OH has grown since 1990. The population has added about 713,530 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →