$100k salary, packing up from Charleston

change
Columbus, OH cityscape

swapping out of charleston

Columbus

oh · metro 2.2M

a dispatch from

columbus

OH

39.96°N

83.00°W

Columbus is Ohio State on autumn Saturdays (the Horseshoe holds 100,000+ and they all wear scarlet), German Village's cobblestone streets and brick cottages, and a Short North gallery scene that punches well above its weight. It's quietly become a test market for the rest of America because the demographics line up so neatly. The food scene leans young, weird, and good. 'Buckeyes' here can mean either the football team or the chocolate-peanut-butter candy.

metro2.2M

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$685

below Charleston's monthly cost

You'd feel the difference in Columbus. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Charleston.
landable, recorded on the columbus entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,511/mo

24% cheaper than Charleston(vs $1,987/mo)

02state income tax

3.99%

$209/mo less in state tax than Charleston

vs 6.5% in Charleston

03after rent

$6,490/mo

$685 more than Charleston

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$350k

19% cheaper than Charleston

vs $432k in Charleston

05metro size

2.2M

vs 849k in Charleston

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

171

pleasant days a year, in columbus.

Charleston has the edge here, logging 212 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 29 days below 20° vs Charleston's 0.

A real upgrade on things to do: 2.8× Charleston's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

57/100

15% lower than Charleston

vs 67/100 in Charleston

Closest outdoor draw: Alum Creek State Park, 16.2 mi.

·walk score®

85/100

8% lower than Charleston

vs 92/100 in Charleston

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

32

60% more than Charleston

vs 20 nonstops in Charleston

04 · see also

if columbus appeals, also worth a look:

compare columbus with: