Signals
Newark
Columbus
Opportunity
64 · Top 33%
vs75 · Top 14%
Climate
64 · Bottom 31%
vs68 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 23%
vs77 · Top 28%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 16%
vs78 · Bottom 46%
Schools
45 · Bottom 42%
vs17 · Bottom 7%
Access
90 · Bottom 42%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 24%
vs54 · Bottom 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Newark | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 50,783 | 914,802 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,670 | $66,082 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,847 | $37,860 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,421/sq mi | 4,129/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $192,300 | $252,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $973 | $1,295 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.8% | 44.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 38.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 18.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 38.8" | 41.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.8 | 33.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 18 | 252 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.85 | 17.45 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 57.5% | 32.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 56.0% | 38.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 39.2% | 42.6% | 2024-25 school 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Newark
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Columbus
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Newark, OH · Columbus, OH · How this is calculated: methodology