with $100k coming in, swapping out of Grand Rapids

change
Columbus, OH cityscape

instead of grand rapids

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

$131

lighter monthly cost than Grand Rapids

Cost barely budges between Columbus and Grand Rapids. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
landable, recorded on the columbus entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,511/mo

7% cheaper than Grand Rapids(vs $1,620/mo)

02state income tax

3.99%

$22/mo less in state tax than Grand Rapids

vs 4.25% in Grand Rapids

03after rent

$6,490/mo

$131 more than Grand Rapids

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

04a house here

$350k

1% cheaper than Grand Rapids

vs $353k in Grand Rapids

05metro size

2.2M

vs 1.2M in Grand Rapids

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

171

pleasant days a year, in columbus.

Grand Rapids barely cracks 151 pleasant ones.

A real upgrade on things to do: 1.7× Grand Rapids's pace.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

57/100

2% higher than Grand Rapids

vs 56/100 in Grand Rapids

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

·walk score®

85/100

12% lower than Grand Rapids

vs 97/100 in Grand Rapids

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

32

60% more than Grand Rapids

vs 20 nonstops in Grand Rapids

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as columbus:

compare columbus with: