with $100k coming in, swapping out of Washington

change
Columbus, OH cityscape

instead of washington

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

$1,217

below Washington's monthly cost

Move to Columbus and the monthly math gets easier. Washington's rent is the headline; Columbus's is a footnote.
landable, recorded on the columbus entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,511/mo

36% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)

02state income tax

3.99%

$376/mo less in state tax than Washington

vs 8.5% in Washington

03after rent

$6,490/mo

$1,217 more than Washington

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

04a house here

$350k

44% cheaper than Washington

vs $626k in Washington

05metro size

2.2M

vs 6.3M in Washington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

171

pleasant days a year, in columbus.

Washington actually gets more: 177 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 29 days below 20° here, 11 in Washington.

Comparable to Washington for events and concerts.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

57/100

34% lower than Washington

vs 87/100 in Washington

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

·walk score®

85/100

13% lower than Washington

vs 98/100 in Washington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

32

80% fewer than Washington

vs 160 nonstops in Washington

04 · see also

neighbors of columbus on the map of tradeoffs:

compare columbus with: