on $100k a year, leaving Melbourne

change
Columbus, OH cityscape

swapping out of melbourne

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

$52

lighter monthly cost than Melbourne

On paper, Columbus and Melbourne are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the columbus entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,511/mo

20% cheaper than Melbourne(vs $1,895/mo)

02state income tax

3.99%

$333/mo more in state tax than Melbourne

vs 0% in Melbourne

03after rent

$6,490/mo

$52 more than Melbourne

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

04a house here

$350k

0% more expensive than Melbourne

vs $351k in Melbourne

05metro size

2.2M

vs 644k in Melbourne

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

171

pleasant days a year, in columbus.

Melbourne actually gets more: 254 pleasant days a year. Winter shows up, though: 29 days below 20° vs Melbourne's 0.

·outdoorscore

57/100

4% higher than Melbourne

vs 55/100 in Melbourne

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

·walk score®

85/100

1% higher than Melbourne

vs 84/100 in Melbourne

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

32

1500% more than Melbourne

vs 2 nonstops in Melbourne

04 · see also

same energy as columbus, different zip code:

compare columbus with: