Columbus receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Columbus
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Opportunity
83 · Top 6%
vs87 · Top 2%
Growth
63 · Top 28%
vs65 · Top 24%
Climate
68 · Top 47%
vs75 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 21%
vs69 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 50%
vs78 · Bottom 27%
Access
99 · Top 3%
vs90 · Top 37%
Economic stability
79 · Top 21%
vs83 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Columbus | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,175,788 | 6,256,377 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $81,945 | $89,724 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,770 | $46,309 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 454/sq mi | 712/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $300,800 | $367,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,274 | $1,672 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.3% | 66.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.8% | 42.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 11.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 13,239 | 33,796 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.1 | 5.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.7% | -7.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.6" | 50.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 33.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.7 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
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Columbus
80
Your Score
80
Area Score
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
78
Your Score
78
Area Score
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Full profiles: Columbus, OH Metro Area · Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology